Dressing up Posh: Designer couture for moms and kids

Life doesn’t stop when you’re pregnant. Even in their delicate condition, women who are expecting still have wedding parties, Christmas gatherings, and other formal events to go to.

Being the head of a company that organizes events for big-name clients that include the SM Group of Companies and the Manila Philharmonic Orchestra, CTS Concepts and Events owner Charm Sevilla found it challenging to shop for the right dress for formal functions when she was pregnant.

So Sevilla came up with the idea of partnering with top designers Pepsi Herrera and Edwin Tan to produce a line of designer clothes for moms and kids.

The result—Posh—will soon be available on Ava Philippines, an online boutique store that sells apparel, bags, and accessories.

Herrera, a designer for celebrities like Kris Aquino, Regine Velasquez, Kim Chiu and Julia Montes, designed Posh Kids' formal clothing line for children from zero to six years old.

Tan, who has dressed up personalities like Luis Manzano, Xian Lim, Kristine Hermosa, and Claudine Barretto, designed the Posh Maternity formal attire for pregnant women in their first to last trimester.

There will only be limited editions of each design for both lines. "There will be limited stocks so it's not mass-produced, giving premium to the product," Sevilla said.

She said Posh is all about highlighting Filipino creativity and ingenuity, and showcasing "Filipino talent by collaborating only with top-caliber designers."

Herrera said most of the Posh Kids clothing will be in pastel colors, but there will also be bright colors like red, especially as the Christmas season is approaching.

For boys, there will be short- and long-sleeved shirts as well as formal shorts and formal long pants. For girls, there will be gowns as well as mix-and-match blouses and skirts.

Herrera, known for his classic formal creations as well as the casual ready-to-wear clothes he designs for Mint, said he designed the clothes in such a way that the children will still feel very comfortable in them—they can run around and play in them even when they’re wearing formal clothes.

Flattering styles

Tan said that pregnant women still want to look good despite their condition.

"I've never been pregnant but I feel a lot of pregnant women are very insecure about their bodies, especially when they're pregnant and their trying to hide their bodies," he said.

Initially a doctor by profession, Tan said he understands the bodily changes that pregnant women undergo, but also admitted that it was challenging to design clothes for women in different stages of pregnancy—"before the baby bump, till it shows, till-all out really pregnant."

He said they came out with silhouettes which will be flattering to the pregnant body shapes.

"Beautiful clothing will help a woman become more confident," he said.

Tan said he also designed glitzy gowns for Posh Maternity, because the holiday season is approaching.

"For the holiday collection, we came out with glitzy look; more texture," he said, adding that the women can wear these to holiday parties, weddings, and other big events.

Tan also co-owns a shop with Herrera. He lamented that they receive "a lot of rush orders for maternity dresses. It pains me to turn them away" due to tight deadlines.

When Herrera and Tan were asked what their favorite pieces were, they said they are still in the process of creating those pieces.

“My favorite piece is not there yet; I haven't done it yet,” Herrera said.

Tan added that most artists aren't satisfied with what they've done. "You're constantly trying to explore, constantly trying to improve on yourself," he said. "So even with us, whatever pieces na nagandahan na kami, after seeing it, we know we can improve the next one." — BM, GMA News

Posh Kids and Posh Maternity clothing will be available online through www.ava.com.ph on or before the end of November.