Philippine Fashion Week Review: Celebs rule the runway at Bench

It wouldn’t be a Bench show without a blitzkrieg of celebrities to take over the runway from hard-working models. Like, Rocco Nacino for example, who remained unknown to most of the fashion folks until he made the decision to dance down the runway like a young slightly-addled Robin Williams.

The one-and-a-half-hour show delivered plenty of newsworthy moments, including Human’s Mexican goths, Kashieca’s return to ladylike looks and Bench’s collaboration with Randy Ortiz.

Bench, known for being the gateway label for any star on the rise, is probably the best bench mark for anyone playing the fame game.

Human

Citing the Festival of the Dead as inspiration, artist/accessories designer AJ Omandac, who styled the Human show, turned out grunge-inflected ensembles with some heavy Latin overtones. Headdresses fashioned from garishly-hued flowers, smiling skeleton masks, tattoo-sleeved shirts, lace-edged veils and floor-length printed skirts turned heads. And that was just the guys.

Though only a few of the pieces will actually make it to the stores — the simple floral print tops, the graphic tees, the un-embellished denim are the only ones to see the light of retail — we can’t help but admire the label’s showmanship.

Though it was amusing to play a game of spot-the-Human-product. Like with one particular look, featuring a shirtless male model in a skirt, boots and numerous accessories, it seemed only a red garrison belt could legitimately be Human.

If only some of the glamour at the shows could make its way to stores, local retail could make a turn for the better.

Randy Ortiz For Bench

“At Bench, fashion can be an everyday luxury,” Noel Manapat, the stylist responsible for all the billboards and ads the label’s strewn all over the country, remarks. The debut of Randy Ortiz’s collection for Bench heralds a landmark for the label. “Bench will now carry suits, jackets and long-sleeved polos for men,” he tells us. “As well as a full complement of womenswear.”

Ortiz, celebrating over 30 years in the business, rolled out over 20 designs in his signature mix of patterns. “They used to call me the Prince of Prints,” he asserts. Highlights are the tees in circle and striped prints, along with paisleys and florals in a washed-out monochrome palette. If the looks were reminiscent of the slightly oversized silhouettes of the ’90s, that’s because Ortiz was referencing his original ready-to-wear collection from the first years of the grunge decade. “That’s why I like to say I’ve come full circle,” he observes. A selection of suits and jackets in cotton twill for men, jumpsuits, tunics, dress slacks for women round out a collection that will be in stores starting next month.

Kashieca

Kashieca’s grown up since we last saw her. The label’s gone a decidedly more sophisticated route this season, channeling ’70s country club with plenty of tennis and nautical references, along with sidelong glances at retro sportswear. As summer trends have shaped up to embrace the ladylike trend — that’s lady with a capital L, complete with pearls, structured handbag and a dependence on Xanax — Kashieca’s taken up the gauntlet. Standouts like wide-leg slacks, preppy sweaters, pleated flat-front trousers, accordion-pleat knee-length skirts and shawl-collared knits pay homage to tennis great Billie Jean King if she invested in Katharine Hepburn’s wardrobe. Kashieca’s version of eveningwear, according to the show’s stylist LA Consing-Lopez, is shift dresses and flirty skirts. It’s always nice to see a label evolve, and, in the case of Kashieca, it’s a sweet surprise to see the profusion of pastels make way for something a little more mature.

Bench

There was something cool about the floppy hats, the rounded spectacles and the overall insouciance at the Bench show. Noel Manapat, clearly digging “it” Brits, ladled heaps of London cool, tipping his hat to Paul Smith and Fred Perry. For him, a Hawaiian floral shirt one size smaller was paired with cuffed brown trousers, varsity jackets and trousers were updated with a tie looped over the waist. Shirts for guys were particularly strong in this collection. Mixed prints, like a green and blue checked shirt with striped sleeves, proved potent — drawing eyes despite its simple styling.

For girls, simple femininity with a dash of tomboy ruled, with dotted dresses, playful striped tank dresses and plentiful plaid shirts. This Bench girl was confident and pulled-together. All in all, a good showing.