Trend trance: A Philippine Fashion Week round-up

The recently concluded Philippine Fashion Week covered bases old and new. Cult favorites such as crop tops and digi-print fabric proved they’re here to stay, while liquid metal garments and shoulder-centric dresses breathed new life into certain trends.

Caught in the Middle

Trend: Crop Tops

Crop tops of fashion’s past exposed more of the midsection, but this season’s take on the midriff was a bit more conservative. More skin was spared this time, giving the trend a peek-a-boo feel.

Real Wear Tip: Remember this rule: high cut tops for high-waist skirts while longer tops call for low-rise skirts. If you’re going for a high cut top, go for something tight-fitting to capture your curves and pair it with a skirt that holds more volume, this way you strike a balance with the fit. If you're going for long, loose, flowy tops, choose a tight pair of pants or a pencil skirt to go with it.

Static Noise

Trend: Black & White

This season marked an evolution in black and white. Though a classic color combo, the way the opposing hues were broken up and blocked made the pieces appear more graphic than jailbird. Splat patterns, horizontal stripes, random linears, and 3D rectangular petals give this classic a modern spin.


Real Wear Tip: The key to black and white is blocking and disconnection. For a simple pattern such as stripes, break the pattern with a belt or by showing some skin. Or, if you’re going for solids, separate them by means of top and bottom. If you’re going for something subtle, then black and white as an accent (such as accessories or a pattern) is a foolproof way to go.

All that Jazz

Trend: Detailing and Embellishments

Filipino designers are masters of craftsmanship—hence, beading, lacework, and cutouts are main attractions during fashion weeks. Crystals sewn onto sheer fabric give the illusion of diamonds floating on the skin, while luxurious full skirts make the sight ethereal.


Real Wear Tip: It’s hard to find an occasion that will call for this much gloss and drama, but here’s how you can make this trend wearable: wear separates when wearing fragile garments showered with details and embellishments. Wearing a full dress or a matching embellished suit will be too overwhelming to observer eyes.

The Fine Print

Trend: Digi-Print

In true summer fashion, print is the trend to watch. This season’s take on the pattern involves bright colors and glossed fabrics that make for livelier hues. Instead of clashing prints, dresses, and separates, feature continuous patterns and artful grading techniques.


Real Wear Tip: Don’t over-complicate your outfit by choosing apparel with loud prints AND elaborate cuts. For large digi-prints like this, sticking to a simple silhouette is key. Try an A-line 60’s inspired dress or a shirt-and-pants combination that draws the eye to look fluidly from top to bottom.

A Fish’s Tale

Trend: Mermaid Cut

The mermaid cut dress often has a lighter fabric as material for the end of the dress. However, a more modern and creative spin is on trend. Designers didn’t shy away from using heavy fabric to counteract the body-hugging silhouette nor using feathers for a whimsical finish to their gowns.


Real Wear Tip: This form and shape leaves little room for the body to hide. The most important aspect of the mermaid cut relies on a person’s body type. This silhouette looks flattering on pear-shaped bodies but for more angular types, you can cheat some curves via accents around the hips, creating the illusion of a slimmer waist.

Mercury Rising

Trend: Metallics

Whether semi or high-shine, metallic is this season’s color palette of choice. Iterations of gold (soft, yellow, and dirty) and gunmetal were standouts. Add a bit of skin to the mix and you get fashion’s bicentennial woman.


Real Wear Tip: Metallic fabric can weigh you down, especially if you wear too much of it. Try to keep the jewelry and shoes simple. Also, skin seems to be the best counterweight for this trend, so bare those arms and legs all you want.

Weight on Shoulders

Trend: Shoulder Fashion

A refreshing trend that anchors itself on a woman’s unsung body part. The shoulders are brought center stage with creative renditions on straps (or the lack thereof). Shoulders are draped, wrapped, lassoed, and just plain made to look effortlessly sexy.


Real Wear Tip: It’s hard to wear this trend the wrong way. Wear it dressed up with a pencil skirt and a slit or dressed down with some baggy pants and some sneaks. This trend is a free-for-all and doesn’t discriminate from personal style or body type. — VC, GMA News


All photos courtesy of Philippine Fashion Week