En Vogue

Every woman holds some fascination for fashion beginning from a very young age.  When we were around 4 to 8 years old, we donned our fairy and princess outfits, complete with the wand and tiaras; we teeter totter on our mother’s high heels; and borrow her make-up (more oftentimes than not this means lipstick all over our faces).  When we reached our adolescence, we started to experiment with different looks. I remember wearing a garish 80’s Madonna-esque outfit.  Hot pink mesh half-shirt, black lace pouffy skirt, leggings and ballet flats.  The hair-do was equally obnoxiously styled into a ‘punk’ cut complete with spikes that were molded with a whole jar of gel.  And I thought I was HOT. 

Trends come and go like the tides falling on the shore.  And as Heidi Klum always quotes on her show, Project Runway, “In fashion one day you’re in, next day you’re out.”  That pretty much sums up what fashion is.  It is very fickle and holds no loyalty to any one trend.

For 2011 spring styles in Milan, Italian Vogue features trends of maxi handbags; lace-up, military style boots; fedora hats; suspenders; vests; large, pastel colored sunglasses; classic, arm handbags in red; layered bracelets in leather and string; knee high socks; black nail polish; and messanger bags.  British Vogue features their trends as leopards, pandas, and giraffes being the influence for animal patterns; different shades of tangerine; nude colours; various shades of blue; stripes are big, bold and bright.  Paris Vogue says the IN stuff for spring are Rouge, Maille, Bottes Fourreés, Cape, Peau Lainee, Chaussettes Hautes, Camel, Cuissardes, and Minimalisme.  Don’t forget to grab a French dictionary to translate all that, but it sounds wonderful rolling off your tongue in the French language.  Vogue US features the same colour palettes from europe with blues, tangerine, yellows, and nudes for choices; maxi-bags; arm bags; ballet flats in rainbow colours; shifts; and blazers. 

In Asia, Vogue Japan’s spring style takes their inspiration from cotton lace from the Victorian period with white being the dominant colour of choice mixed in with some nudes; outfits presented on the runway were very monochromatic; the 70’s Jane Birkin style is very much so here and now; also present were knitted and crochet dress bags in earth colours; and the fedora hats.

The Philippine’s version of Vogue equates to Mega and Metro magazines.  There have been other magazines which have graced the stands but more geared for high-street fashion which is most prevalent here in the country.  These two magazines define what the style trends are for the Philippines.  Sure enough the trends being featured on Mega include the blues, reds, tangerines, big stripes that we see in the European fashion trends. 

Filipinas are naturally ‘kikay’ (hip and trendy).  Hence trends are always en vogue here in Manila.  Though many of the trend forecasts originates from the fashion capitals of Milan, Paris, London and New York, Filipinas manage to take all of that and interpret it into a tropical friendly version. 

Pinay’s have wonderful sense of style; however, there is a huge difference between high-street fashion and haute couture.  The Philippines still has not stepped into the realm of haute couture as in the level of the fashion houses in Italy, France, Japan, UK, and USA.  Sure our expats to the USA like Monique L’Huillier, Oliver Tolentino, Michael Cinco, Josie Natori, Mich Dulce, and Rafe Totengco have gained international fame and help put some attention to the Philippines on the fashion forefront.  But fashion needs to be taken to the next level in the Philippines.  Our local top designers by the likes of Jojie Lloren, Ronald Arnaldo, Bubum Melgar, Paul Cabral, Ivarluski Aseron, and others, have the talent to rival those from the well-known houses of Versace, Jean Paul Gaultier, Valentino, Givenchy, Chanel, Giorgio Armani Privé, and Christian Dior.

Haute Couture is the ultimate in luxury and fashion pampering. It is a delight only a few thousand women in the whole world will ever get to experience. 'Haute Couture' is the most exclusive and expensive clothing a fashion house can ever produce. ‘Haute Couture’ is a French word meaning high cut or tailoring.  Not every fashion house creates Haute Couture. In fact there are only a few of the most exclusive fashion houses that do. The term 'Haute Couture', although used more often than it should be, it is a term that is regulated by the French government and is still governed by a number of precise criteria. The house must have at least 20 staff that works at their premises and must present day and evening wear collections totaling 50 garments to the press in Paris twice a year, shown by a minimum of three models. Their collections must also be shown in their own salons.  (Designer Hightrend)

The plethora of fashion variety is available in the Philippines.  The need for Filipinas to take fashion to the next level and be the leaders and trend setters is there.  Filipinas must to step out of the ‘conservative’ zone and experiment with more radical styles which will jolt the fashion world.  Our local haute couture designers have the talent to make the Philippines the Asian fashion capital.  Our ladies with their flair for fashion need to be the leaders and not the followers of fashion trends.  Let Filipinas define style.