Sliding Into Headlines
By: Bianca Valerio
Metro Magazine, one of the Philippines’ premiere women’s fashion and lifestyle magazines created Metrowear: an annual series of fashion shows to showcase the latest collections from both local designers’ and retail brands.
Every year, Metrowear gives focus to one designer who is deserving of much due credit. This year, Metrowear Series 2008 diverts its attention to someone who is marking his 20th year in the fashion industry - Randy Ortiz.
Randy, for years, has been known as a master craftsman of menswear, with his witty mix and play of colors and prints. (Very Etro, if I had to point out a comparison.) Eventually venturing into womenswear, his holiday collection for Metrowear harmoniously joined both in the show’s title, Aspirer.
The event was presented by Samsung, along with other major sponsors.
The cinema, being the design inspiration, had the country’s top models, retired supermodels and top celebrity clients, come together to sashay in Ortiz’ glamorous yet edgy creations.
Held at the Edsa Shangri-La Hotel, the event was highly applauded for not only was the collection a successful ode to three remarkable eras in fashion - the 50’s, 60’s and 70’s - but was it also, well, a bit of accidental entertainment. Which only made the cinema theme much more tangible.
The fiberglass runway was surrounded by black leatherette, which made the typical ramp look more opulent.
Being one of the models in the show, as with any big show, there are countless dress rehearsals onstage to make sure the show’s flow is seamless. However, with the runway being fiberglass, even if rehearsals ran smoothly, no one informed us that the fiberglass had been polished right before the show.
Which meant what?
Almost every model, myself included, had their share of slips and slides!
Getting prepped before the show, top actress Bea Alonzo
Even stunning top female actress, Bea Alonzo, (her first runway show ever) fell right on her bum during the finale while in Randy’s beautiful wedding gown. It made headline news that evening. Fitting for her as she nabbed the starring role for the Philippine version of Ugly Betty which was premiering the very next day. Just the hype the show needed as it was certainly an Ugly Betty moment!
Now, that’s publicity you can’t buy! It was talked about throughout the after party, was in the news days after, and of course popped up on YouTube as well.
But amidst the aftermath of the runway taboo, it only solidified Randy’s effervescent presence in the fashion industry; only this time, with a twist.
Here are some runway shots of the show:
The pieces include long, short, and lean structures. Sculptured, waisted fishtails, voluminous skirts, peplum jackets, palazzos, baby doll dresses, and ruffles.
Embellishment is characterized mostly by the use of hand/machine embroidery with minimal beading. Accessories are more into leathers and metals.
Here's retired supermodel, Marina Benipayo, drop-dead in red revisiting the runway to show support for Randy's gala.
Elements of leather and metal in gold, silver, bronze and copper gives the collection a touch of hard edged modern elegance.
The colors of the collection were taken from the dramatic fall palette, ranging from bottle green, bordeaux, electric blue, and orangina, to the classic colors of black, white, silver and red.
Generally, the concept of the collection also has a very strong hint of neo-romantic/ baroque-ish inspiration using the rosette design interpreted in various patterns and textures.
Randy Ortiz (right) together with best friend and renowned fashion show director, Jackie Aquino
Wishing Randy luck before the show, Metro Magazine's new Editor-in-Chief, Katrina Holigores
RTW
Myth Boutique- 2F Greenbelt 5
Ayala Center, Makati,
Philippines
www.randyortiz.com
