Ipanema Brings Brazilian Style to Philippine Fashion

The maker of high-fashion flip-flops Ipanema opens its first one-stop footwear shop in the country at Rustan’s Makati. This coincides with the brand’s launch of its new collection for Philippine Fashion.

Ipanema, a neighborhood in the southern part of Rio de Janeiro where the flip-flop brand has been culled, is known as a cultural hub of outgoing and passionate Brazilians. The brand draws inspiration from their vivid and colorful lifestyle.

Known for its quality, design, and functionality, Ipanema designs its footwear prints using a wide range of colors. With their latest footwear designs, you don’t have to choose one over the other—this type of footwear is not just meant for functional comfort; rather, it serves to stylize a wide variety of outfits and is designed to complement your daily ensemble—they look good and functional whether you’re walking on the beach or the city.

Read more »

Philippine Fashion Guru Alonzo is No More

Philippine fashion guru Aureo R Alonzo passed away on Sunday morning at Makati Medical Center due to pneumonia. He was 86.

On the heels of the reign of National Artist Ramon Valera, Alonzo, Jose “Pitoy” Moreno, Ben Farrales formed the triumvirate that ruled and defined Philippine Fashion in the ’60s and a good part of the ’70s, Inquirer reported.

Not only did they corner the Philippine high society of those glamorous eras, when balls were staged regularly, they also reaped accolades abroad, where they presented their collections before a prestigious mix of royalty, heads of state and the jet set, the newspaper reported.

Alonzo’s highest recognition was the Camel Award given in Europe in the ’60s. It was said that he showed the judges how he could cut, construct and sew right before their eyes, the news report said.

Like his generation of couturiers, Alonzo knew and did the basics of clothes construction. He didn’t draw design, he made clothes, the news report said.

Their fashion triumvirate brought the Filipino’s artistry in draping, exquisite beadwork, embroidery and ornamentation to the global stage.

Like the early breed of couturiers before them, they mastered the terno. And this was in the late ’50s and in the ’60s, when the country’s upper-crust women were a captive market, foremost of them was a beauty who would be First Lady, Imelda Marcos, reported Inquirer.

Alonzo had his share of loyal clientele, led by another beauty, the statuesque Gretchen Oppen Cojuangco, the wife of tycoon Danding Cojuangco. They frequented his atelier/residence in Malate, a two-story ornate structure.

Although he came from a prominent clan in Navotas–Roldan, his maternal side–it is well known that he didn’t finish school. This made his stellar career all the more impressive. He reached the pinnacle of his profession by sheer talent, hard work and character. He was well loved by people.

In recent years, he suffered from a blood-related ailment, according to his longtime assistant Eric Santos.

The stalwart spent his last years in a nursing home run by religious nuns, where he continued to accept a few clienteles. His last work, done recently, according to Santos, was a red draped long dress (or gown) for Linda Tanjangco to be worn to a wedding, reported Inquirer.

He lies in state at Funeraria Paz at Manila Memorial Park in Sucat, Paranaque, reported Inquirer.

Read more »

Carl Jan Cruz reppin’ Philippine Fashion at the LCF graduate show

Fresh off the industrial press, YStyle alum Philippine Fashion Designer Carl Jan Cruz steps through London College of Fashion’s (LCF) Shoreditch campus doors three times — nine garment bags and a suitcase full of shoes in tow.

Twenty-six of LCF’s best talents from their menswear, womenswear, textiles and accessories courses are all set backstage, about to present their graduate collections to a warehouse full of fashion press and industry insiders — from editors of Vogue UK, i-D, Dazed and Confused and A Mag Curated By, to global head of personal shopping at Net-A-Porter, Lupe Puerta, to Céline’s 3D studio head designer Rene De Vera, and Maisie Williams of House Stark (Arya, to all you Game of Thrones fans out there), the BA show conjured a guest list out of a fantasy draft. As the LCF seniors close the graduate exhibition season, optimisim and earnestness abound — students showcased, above all, collaboration and technique.

The runway was an assembly line of both experimental pieces that were accessorized with giant floppy hats, fur-cuffed slip dresses, and distressed denim slashed and knotted away, punctuated by more practical silhouettes (though no less conceptual) rendered in billowy fabrics, slouchy knitwear, and streamlined sheaths. Then there is, of course, Carl’s collection.

By marking the archival of his own pieces and photographs as the collection’s starting point, he in turn has made a personal project into a public confession — the echoes of which are traced all over his clothes. You will see it on the topstitches, the hand-sewn hems, the exaggerated cuffing, in the ease and exact rigidness of his denims. Or even, on a more fundamental level, the fact that the majority of the fabrics were sourced, sampled, and developed in the Philippines. Defiant yet accessible, 15/15 aimed to rework and redevelop the blue jeans, white shirt aesthetic; particularly grounded in the ‘90s, but exploring the potential for layering, and employing subtle touches and more extreme ones to challenge the existing silhouette. No fuss, no glamour — this is how Carl Jan Cruz gets it done.

Read more »

TOP THREE MALDITA MUST-HAVES

Are you tired of buying clothes again and again to get that new look? Well, now you don’t have to do that again because we provide you here some of Maldita’s sophisticated items that you can mix and match with any of the available pieces on your closet! Here are they:

1. Maldita’s Lace Cut and Sew Blazer

Maybe you will think this blazer is just another one same from the others but this is absolutely not. Maldita’s black cut and sew blazer is made from the sophisticated combination of lace and linen, ready to give you a distinct look. This combination is very rare yet still matches with any kind of inner tops. It is best paired with another laced short or skirt.

2. Maldita’s Tulip Skirt

Maldita’s tulip skirt has really got a very unique design. It is a color beige high waisted skirt made from premium lace of classy pattern. It has a triangular shape slit cut in front which makes it extraordinary and enables you to move freely. This skirt can go with any color and type of blouse. It can be paired with another lace, cotton, and chiffon top. Maldita’s tulip skirt definitely gives you a very elegant look whenever you wear it on any formal or informal event.

3. Maldita’s Crepe Sleeveless

If there’s any multifaceted blouse you can ever have, it is undeniably Maldita’s crepe sleeveless. It is a very simple and plain blouse that gives you an extravagant look! What make it different from any other blouses are the unique metal tip collar and the triangle-shaped crop it has on its back. Maldita’s crepe sleeveless can be worn with plain or printed pants, shorts, and skirt of any color. Not just that! You can wear it with a coat or a cardigan depending in your mood and you can wear it with or without accessories but will still give you a high-class look. On different occasions you will be attending, even if it’s an indoor or outdoor affair, this smart pick will still surely fit.

So if you want a distinct outfit that can be paired with any type of clothes and can go with any kind of events, grab these three Maldita Must-Haves now for just reasonable prices.

Read more »

MALDITA EVERYWHERE

Having a hard time thinking how to get to your all time favorite store? You don’t have to worry about long travels to grab that fashion-savvy pieces you dearly desire because Maldita is the one who will come and reach you now!

Maldita, our best-loved brand known for its contemporary designs and high quality apparels, is now accessible everywhere! Currently, the brand has twenty nine available stores nationwide. There are fourteen adorable retail stores in Metro Manila, eight in Luzon, five in Visayas, and two in Mindanao. You can check out the specific mall location of each boutique on the Store page of their official website.

Every Maldita shop has a simple and classy concept that goes along with the vogue of their apparels. Each has spacious place with a very light and sophisticated ambiance where you can take time looking for your style. You can also easily see the brand’s newest collection worn by mannequins on the facade of every store. 

So what are you waiting for? Get up now and go to the available stores near you!

Read more »

I MUST HAVE THAT MALDITA!

Stay classy, never trashy!

This is the one of the very main reasons why you should grab your Maldita pieces now. The brand offers really unique styles that can never go away with the trend! These are fashion-savvy designs you can wear anytime in any activities, indoor and even outdoor. The styles are well planned by their in house professionals and carefully designed up to its smallest detail. Fashion that reveals your beauty and shape to make you look extra fab. The color picks the brand settles on are the ones that fit on any skin tone color that’s why you don’t need to worry about picking shades that suit your skin. The brand also offers  variety of designs fit for different types of personalities. Maldita optionally chooses to sheer their styles away from fad. They create their own fashion every season to make you look different from the rest.

Moreover, it’s not just the styles that make Maldita worth grabbing for. Every smart picks from the brand is made from authentic and high quality materials which make their products last long. The materials used are carefully picked to match the style and give you a more comfy feeling.

And the last reason why you should own Malditaapparels is that, they only release limited pieces to keep their standard of being one of a kind! Don’t wait for the stocks to be cleared up! Visit the Maldita stores near you and grab one now!

Read more »

Maldita Campaign Ads

Seductively elegant was the new theme of Maldita’s impressive ad campaign video.  The setting was an old lovely dilapidated building where the unit was located. The scenes were first mysterious turned seductive when the character was revealed. The story revolved around the sexy Nikki Gil exhibiting her classy outfits on her way to her unit.

The video became more enticing when the hot actress reached her room and turned up the volume of her stereo. She started dancing and fitting her fashion-savvy Maldita pieces along with the alluring music. The classy chic picks revealed her beauty and sexiness even more as the stylish clothes slowly fitted and showed the curves of her body .

The campaign was created to attract and turn on the audience in a sexy and elegant way which was proven on the video. See how Maldita made Nikki Gil looked extra sizzling through watching the ad on the Philippine Fashion brand’s official website.

Read more »