The Terno—A Modern Romance

June was truly a celebration of our Pinoy pride at its finest, with the commemoration of our National Hero Jose Rizal’s 150th birthday as the highlight. Our fashion industry celebrated this momentous month in its own stylish way, as Mega magazine hosted the Mega Pinoy Pride Terno Ball at the Rizal Ballroom of Makati Shangri-la hotel.


Celebrities and media personalities, as well as key names from the business and political sectors, were greeted with an exhibit of terno creations by fashion designers such as:

Eric de los Santos

Sen. Pia Cayetano by Paul Cabral

Veejay Floresca

Russell Villafuerte

another one by Russell Villafuerte

Kaye Tinga by Pepito Albert 

Kristel Yulo

Audrey Tan Zubiri by Rajo Laurel

Audrey Tan Zubiri (again) by Inno Sotto

Further down the walkway, Pinay supermodels wearing Frederick Peralta’s ternos and accessories by Jewelmer welcomed the invited guests as they made their way to their tables set with centerpieces done by Robert Blancaflor.  They were presented again during the program proper:

The five-course meal was especially made by chef Gene del Prado, inspired by the rich Filipino heritage—a mélange of flavors from kesong puti, kangkong, lapulapu and various vegetables and fruits. Mango pudding, ube macaroon and cashew sans rival made great desserts for a fabulous sit-down dinner. Complementing the night were Musikito String Orchestra, which played OPM songs, and JM Rodriguez, who sang for the attendees.

It was definitely a night packed with Pinoy pride, thanks to the host. “We started Mega Pinoy Pride last year, and from then on, we decided to make it an annual event,” says Sari Yap, Mega Publishing Group’s president and CEO and editor-in-chief of Mega magazine.  “More than anything, Mega Publishing Group prides itself with the talent of Filipinos, which explains why all our 10 titles are homegrown and not franchises,” she continues. 

Mega Pinoy Pride Terno Ball 2011 was mounted by Mega Publishing Group’s events arm, Events 100.

Fashion Week Peeks 2

Here's part deux:

Jan Garcia’s holiday forecast is a refreshing one, featuring a colorful palette of teal, blush and wheat gray.  Hand embroidered floral details are the accentuated with its contrasting mix of colors.  “Modern silhouettes rendered in multi-textured materials, from silk and wool pique, sprayed paper, to crystal beaded chenille mesh, comprise my ‘Baltic Tribal’ collection.”

Martin Bautista does it again with jersey.  This time, mixed with soft fabrics such as tulle, mesh, and silk chiffon, his latest works speak of femininity and fluidity that’s all about making a dramatic entrance.  “Pieces fuse old world elegance with ultra modern sexiness, resulting in distorted shapes and silhouettes achieved by unexpected texture and detailing.”

Mitzi Quilendrino-Bustos goes for artdeco with her intricate folds.  She kept the colors muted and light to accentuate the origami cuts. Her creations "in white marble and stone gray is all about simple lines peppered with studies on ‘gravity-defiance.” 

Nolie Vineza uses fireworks and glitters as the artwork for his holiday collection.  Dark hues get a kick with glistening beadwork that’s just in time for the merry season.  “It was apply inspired by glitters and fireworks with pieces that are true testaments to this most festive of celebrations.”

Norman Noriega presented an ultra-relaxed and no-fuss set with his use of cotton fabric that’s cut into loose silhouettes.  One could very well see Noriega’s works being worn by just about anyone: “Light, versatile, and easy-to-move-in designs define the aesthetic of the collection.” We’re especially loving the Kimono-style leather wrap.

Patrick Galang gives women a more bad-ass look with his all-black collection.  “Inspired by a ‘dark Pegasus,’ and crafted from leather, tassels, ‘hair-like’ materials and silk all fused to create pieces that speak of strong and independent, subtle yet powerful women.”

Raoul Ramirez goes for Oriental-lady-spies in body-hugging black jersey numbers.  “Pieces are all black, showcasing a fusion of the oriental Indochine and the late 1800’s via versions of slim, elongated, draped and corseted Victorian styles updated with modern and minimal touches.” 

And there we have it—Visions and Trends.

Watch out for the next posts on SM ;)

Fashion Week Peeks 1

Finally, my PFW posts!  This week will be all about Philippine Fashion Week, so do drop by everyday to check out which shows I attended.  Today is part 1 of Day 1 of PFW: Visions & Trends featuring young designers.  

Anna Leah Salvador reinvents the little black dress.  Sticking to a color, but not to a fabric, Salvador was able to produce a myriad of LBDs.  Each fabric, used alone, or combined with another, gave each dress a distinctive appeal.  “These short dresses of velvet, stretch cotton and tulle, lace and leatherette reveal the sinuous silhouette of a woman’s body and evoke a tough and sweet impression,” explains Salvador.

Aries Lagat is true to his inspiration as he showcased a wide range of his styles.  Each piece is totally different from the rest: “It’s an ode to the great Alexander McQueen and to the iconic pieces of his different collections.”  From plain draped ones, to printed pleats, Lagat proves that he is quite the versatile designer.

Benjie Panizales takes its cue from the Moroccans with his pick of muted citrus colors.  “The cadence of colors and shapes is juxtaposed with the carefree, fluid and refined lines of the pieces” His play on linear patterns gives a mysterious ethnic vibe that’s subtly sexy.

Don Protasio brings back the toughness in fiery red numbers.  The classic manga (Japanese comics), Naruto, is brought to life in this traveling warrior collection: “The trench coats, waistcoat, biker jacket, button down shirt, and T-shirt are reconstructed and deconstructed via a play of reduction and layering using fabrics such as dense, loosely woven cotton, polycotton blend and jersey.”

Enrico Carado’s eye for detail won us over in this collection of ancient warlord theme.  One can see how each appliqué and embellishments have been cut and sewn onto the dresses for a look that’s mystically ferocious.  Carado shares: “’Neo-tribalism creates a wider and fiercer reinterpretation of tribal fashion with pieces that reference ancient cultures but incorporate futuristic elements via sculpted fabric details, armor-like embellishments and gold metal studs on clean lines and silhouettes.”

Happy Andrada’s whimsical and feminine designs are given a sassy attitude this time.  With the first ever female pilot, Amelia Earhart, as her muse, her neutral-colored collection showcased three-dimensional voluminous cuts that a give a playful vibe.  “The pieces are feminine yet edgy and are made from a variety of materials such as lace, brocade, zialle chiffon, gazzar, shantung, and tulle.”

Harley Ruedas uses Pinoy Pop culture as the highlight of his collection: “The pieces come in black, gray, ivory, beige and white with a splash of pop art featuring the most famous faces of the times.”  His introduction featured a gown with images of the latest presidentiables, followed by pieces with images of Pinoy celebrities from the 1950s until the present.  Aside from the graphics, his successful mix of tailored designs and soft fabrics is something to watch out for.

 

Jaki Penalosa uses hand-woven abaca as the star of the collection.  The material makes this a great candidate for cocktail dresses.  Embellished with crystal and glass beadwork, this native abaca material are given a dash of glamour that's fit for the holidays.

What do you think so far? Come back tomorrow for part 2 ;)