Sandro scintillates with savvy Parisian style
The Parisian take on fashion can best be described in its own language: tres chic, which translates to that savvy, nonchalant attitude so admired by fashionistas worldwide. The French have an effortless sense of style where nothing is too studied or planned. They never look too ornate or flashy: Everything must be en pointe, a ballet term, also meaning perfect.
Parisian women are practical, leading active lives that run from managing home to work to constantly walking those cobblestone streets to pick up flowers, baguettes and the other necessities of day-to-day living. She will pop in and out of the metro, meet up with friends at cafes, revisit her favorite museum, whip up a quick omelet at home. The daily outfit that meets all this must express her personality and the mood of the moment. Style, for them, includes knowing what best flatters their figures and lifestyle. The clothes they wear must be comfortable and relaxed so they can reflect that gracious sense of ease.
Meeting all these standards — and more — is the collection at the newly opened outpost of Sandro at the ground level of Greenbelt 5. In an upscale mall dedicated to fashion brands of impeccable style, Sandro quickly stands out for pieces that are finely crafted, timeless yet with a twist. Casual blues and denims, pinks and neutrals in top quality cottons, lines, knits and silk are embellished with just the right amount of beads, pearls, studs and lace, some of which take many hours to apply. You’ll quickly notice that the easy mix-and-match pieces can be worn by any age, some even by any gender, and there are silhouettes for all kinds of figures as well.
Sandro is a brand that is not flashing on everyone’s radar yet adds to its allure and appeal.
“I think the Manila fashion aesthetic has evolved quite a bit in the recent past,” says Anton Huang, founder and president of Stores Specialists, Inc. at the opening of the first Sandro boutique in the country. “If you look at things historically, we were more inclined to a US aesthetic but over time, as tastes became more sophisticated, we have definitely been moving towards the Italian and French. This really drove the decision for us to bring in brands like Sandro, like Maje and, on the men’s side, like Boggi. We’ve been seeing sales moving towards that European aesthetic versus historically, the more American taste.”
He adds, “If you look at Sandro and Maje, they are brands that exemplify ‘if you know it, you know it.’” This is a phrase that tells of exclusivity and insider knowledge. “They have a strong following but it’s not something the Philippine market knows to a large degree,” says Anton. “But we’re here, we’re opening in a number of locations because we believe in the brand. We believe in it because of its quality and its aesthetic, and we believe it will do very well.”
The always stylish Nikki Huang supports her father’s point of view. “French style to me is effortless elegance with an edge,” says Nikki, wearing a blue Sandro dress with a see-through band of lace at the waistline that continues on to edge and soften the look of an otherwise daring bare back. “I think that’s the very essence of Sandro. I think what’s really exciting about Sandro is that they have really classic pieces with exciting twists which allow you to wear something season to season and occasion to occasion. You’ll never get tired of what Sandro has to offer, and you’ll never feel alienated from the brand.
“I hope Filipino women feel what I feel, which is that I am so excited to see the collection in the store in the Philippines. I think it’s going to be a really exciting development for Philippine fashion. We have a very expressive, very stylish population and Sandro’s the perfect brand to support everyone’s creativity.”
Other family members of the Tantoco family also graced the Greenbelt 5 opening. Maritess Tantoco-Enriquez, newly arrived from Australia, and avid fashion lover Donnie Tantoco love the wearability and easy grace of Sandro and, no doubt, Manila’s fashionistas will love it, too.
The pieces are easy to put together into simple, contemporary and crisp /cool outfits. Sandro’s present collection includes resort wear with nautical details that are perfect for beach trips but just as suitable for city occasions. Knitwear is a big part of the brand, with figure-skimming dresses that segue easily from day to night. With the French penchant for simplicity and low-profile dressing, you can even imagine these knitted dresses with metallic details on the red carpet. Suits and sets are strong points in the collection, softened with details that are sometimes whimsical and playful. But study the fabrication, the construction and the handsewn embellishment and you’ll see the serious business behind this easy-to-wear clothing line.
Sandro is at a more affordable level of luxury, given the fine fabrics, the styles that stand out quietly and those impeccable details. The brand was founded by Evelyne Chetrite, who grew up in Morocco and imbibed fashion from her grandfather who ran a clothing shop in Rabat. Moving to Paris with her husband, they started the company in 1984, with Evelyne naming the line after a child she encountered named Sandro. She almost named her own son Sandro but settled on Ilan instead, and today, Ilan Chetrite also works in the company that now has 750 points of sale worldwide.
Sandro has collaborated with artists like French American Louise Bourgeois, whose spider web designs are part of a capsule collection available at the Greenbelt store. In recent months, the Sandro x Louise Bougeois collection took over all the window displays of Paris department store Galleries Lafayette. The men’s line will soon be available at the Sandro stores opening at Central Square in BGC and Rustan’s Department Store.
In keeping with the exclusivity of the brand, only a couple of pieces are available per size per style, so if you see something you like, you’d better snap it up. I quickly discovered that Nikki Huang and I have a penchant for the same Sandro dress, and happily, my husband has made that dress a forthcoming birthday gift. Be sure to download the SSI Life app to avail of a good discount!
