Philippine Fashion Week Holiday 2012 American models and death stalk the runway

 With gowns fit for princesses, it was only fitting that the set was just as grand. Set in a forest-like world, models clad in baby blue gowns acted as princesses seemingly lost and afraid of an imaginary evil step-mother.

Lace dominated the collection, but the designer kept the cuts classic and the lines simple. A number of pieces flaunted a woman’s body, showing a peek of skin here and there through the sheer lace.

A highlight of the show was the surprise appearance by America’s Next Top Model’s Alison Harvard and Dominique Reighard, the designer’s muses.

Just as grand as the show was Mr. Cinco’s entrance which began with a handful of handsome men in Bench skivvies, and ended with a bow from the designer surrounded by the half-naked male models.

The show also served to launch his perfume, Impalpable, with Bench, with Ms. Harvard as the face of the eau de toilette

Deathly clothing


The final how of Philippine Fashion Week featured Jerome Salaya Ang’s attempts to capture grim representations of death.

A video introducing his line -- Skin, Sin & Bones -- set the mood for the collection, which, even though the designer found inspirations from the grave, was fortunately not at all morbid.

On the runway were structured pieces with Victorian knots and chains, and pieces with asymmetrical cuts softened by feminine drapes and ruffles.

Aside from the natural inclination to use black as a symbol of death, there were also browns and nudes, reds and purples, as well as muted grays and champagne. The designer also played with digitally printed fabrics, which gave the pieces more depth.

Using silk, organdy, chiffon and tulle, the clothes looked full of life with their volume, bounce and depth.

The new muse of L’Oreal, Congresswoman Lucy Torres-Gomez, is also Mr. Ang’s muse. Seemingly out of place, Ms. Torres-Gomez did the final walk down the runway but did not seem to fit the designer’s concept. -- Camille Erika R. Sarte