Alex Bitong: Harking to the glamour girl

There’s much to be said about being glamorous. As natural as it is to be laid-back or the girl next door, the glamour girl is just as insouciantly elegant. Playing on exuberant colors and sophisticated silhouettes, Alex Bitong keeps it fresh by adding distressed details — whether in a loose fabric casually slung off the shoulder or a much more ornate embroidery muted by fabric.

Even his juicy punches of color are saved from glaring neon fare and rather have an almost dusty effect. It almost looks as if one had stepped into another era with draped fabrics and vintage biased cuts. If I were to express any reservations about this brave collection, with the predictable citrus run of the summer season, it would be the choice of fabric.

Given its almost ironic message as to what glamour should be, the collection’s fabrics seem ill at ease amid his nostalgic designs. Softer and more fluid fabrics would have given the dusty jewel tones much more flair.

All in all it, was a collection for a specific kind of girl. And there’s nothing wrong with designing for a niche.