Complexity and Refinement

CEBU, Philippines - The cool air of the month of November officially signals that the Christmas season is just around the corner. Ironically though, being a tropical island in the Pacific, Cebu still has its sunny side. This has made designers flummoxed as to what holiday wear should be.

For Jun Escario, who marks his fashion gala at the Edsa Shangri-La for Inno Sotto's much ballyhooed production of the series Style Watch this month, he'll show off his pretty side for this season. Stripped of stagy effects, his previous presentations threw no baffling obstacles in the way of his valued clientele and his audience, allowing them instead to appreciate the extraordinary complexity and refinement of his collection. Building from a beginning of cocktail ensemble from true blue French lace (at P5,000+++ per yard), Escario will, without a doubt, progress into more formal concoctions and then on to an ending of ruched, ruffled wedding gowns with a touch of the 50s, all in what seemed to be a mind-boggling intricacy in beadwork, his signature stamp of luxury.

His most recent installment at Gear and Glam – Circle of Ten showed a toreador inspired blanc et noir leggings and crisp white shirt with black cape. If that reads like a severe case of personality change, don't be misled. When Escario applies his mind, they end up abstracted and feminized, maybe with a full chunky neckpiece on red lips every femme fatale would crave. And when it comes to the girly holiday dresses (as shown here in this page), it's all about jersey and chiffon with their draped directions or that singular magenta column dress with its stiff frilly bow curling around the neckline.

   Still, like everything else in his collection (he's been very consistent thru the years), those dresses carry their symbolism with a youthful lightness. And the fact that Escario's radar has also led him, this season, to explore themes that are beyond what's preoccupying the fashion demimonde, only goes to show his ingenuity at its best.

Credits:

Angel Luzano of M.A.C.>Models Association of Cebu (0917 6302400 / 032 3162368)

Maquillage by Emi Ayag and Gary Son assisted by Rey Abella. (THE FREEMAN)