Project Runway Philippines Finale

We saw the Project Runway Philippines Finale last week (thanks Sir Lev=) ) and I really appreciate the effort that the final 3 designers put into their collections. There was a bit of ‘cheese’ before the actual show, which I guess I should have expected, seeing as how everything in the country from politics to fashion is mixed in with the local kind of showbiz. Anyway, it opened with Philip Tamus, who sent a swimwear look down the runway first. He knows the female form which is seen from his clothes- lots of women would be able to wear them and look and feel great. I really liked how he can pile on the details on a bodice without losing the beautiful womanly shape. Then again, the color palette did nothing for me and I felt like I’ve seen them before. Nothing really new but he did a great job using his strengths and coming up with flattering gowns despite the fact that they’re in the most difficult color for a woman to wear- quite a feat.

Veejay Floresca went next and the Linkin Park track really got me excited to see what he’ll show. And I guess that was why I got so disappointed. You know how certain kinds of music makes you visualize a certain look/color/mood? It was like Jerome Lorico’s last season’s show, when his choice of music sort of gave me a preview to his collection. I was stunned then, I wasn’t with Veejay’s. The first few notes got me thinking of black and new metal and edgy models with attitude. Suffice to say I wasn’t expecting at all the colorless minimalist outfits trickling down the runway. I started wondering why he has almost the same colour palette as Philip, and I thought maybe they were prescribed to use eco-fabrics like in one episode of Project Runway (US) or something like that. And while I was thinking about that, the designs all started melting into each other and my eyes just glazed over.. I thought he even sent a dress walking twice. The fit wasn’t that good either. I felt really bad because I wanted him to do well since he has a lot of heart and I know all about the different sacrifices and pains that goes into producing outfits like that. I think about it now and the clothes (which reminded me of the desert area Luke Skywalker grew up in at Tatooine and Queen Amidala’s fighting outfit), considered individually, are actually really great but during the show, I guess they just didn’t make an impact at all. I myself am only starting to learn that it’s better to “wow” in a show and create toned down, more wearable versions of the showpieces later than to be too safe. But I’m not worried for him, he’s young, is learning and there are more shows to come his way.

Aries Lagat showed his collection last and although I wasn’t crazy about his palette, I was just happy that he used colour at all. I loved the sparkling hoodie look for men and the floating lapels and the backs that looked as good as the front. Everything was incredibly well-made and fit the models so well. It was great how the audience clapped when one model went out in one outfit, got unzipped by two other models and turned her one outfit into three new looks for all of them. He’s so good with pattern making, I like how he thinks and he has great showmanship. I think Aries might win, just for showing something new, clothes that got people excited.

My friend told me about a badly written article about this in one of the local newspapers and I have to agree. Someone who would write “a striking bald model (for the theatrical factor)” theatrical factor??! in parentheses no less! after “shift dresses” and “flowing gowns” when talking about what went down the runway is disappointingly getting it wrong in fashion as with the written word. Reading further I came upon the proclamation that according to the author regarding Aries’ clothes and choice of print: “difficult to judge if these pieces would still work when worn in the streets.” Huh. Makes me wonder if the author has actually been out walking in the streets here and the billions of streets in the world, observing what people are actually capable of wearing. I guess that’s why Manila unlike Harajuku and elsewhere has no ’street fashion’. Too many people are too scared to dare wear whatever they like because too many people are too judgmental. And anyway, whether the outfits can be worn in the streets shouldn’t even be a concern anyway, they’re certainly great for parties and special events. But yknow what, maybe an ‘author’ who says “achitechtural” shouldn’t be taken too seriously anyway.