Peplum and paisley reign on the catwalk

Most women would rather forget that the peplum trend exists. The frilly appendage tacked on to skirts, jackets or trousers can look deceivingly un-sexy, costume-y, and, worn incorrectly, can make even the skinniest woman look as if she has — God forbid — hips. I took the peplum at face value and decided it wasn’t worth a second look, much less a fitting.

But The Ramp’s recent catwalk display at Philippine Fashion Week begs us to take a second look, and a third, and a fourth, until we realize that the peplum actually has possibilities beyond a girl-waif wearing it in a size zero. The Ramp at Crossings, with a variety of items that includes tops, skirts, jackets, belts and trousers, proves that regular women, including those that have given birth or just look it, can actually get away with wearing the flouncy detail.

Most of our fears about the peplum probably date back to seeing how it was worn in the ‘80s. Sadly, seen on garish satin prom dresses or cotton frocks with humongous floral prints and with cotton pumps and stumpy granny shoes, the peplum’s reputation nosedived from the elegant one it had during the ‘40s. Which is why The Ramp took on the task of reminding us of this trend at its sophisticated best: 1947, in the time of Dior, as a classic, figure-enhancing pencil-cut skirt, just cut at the knee or the narrowest point of the leg.

By pairing it with structured, minimalist tops and tailored mannish shirts, The Ramp shows us that peplum-attached pieces actually enhance the waist and give women that most-coveted hourglass figure. So it actually also celebrates women with bodies like Scarlett Johansson and Beyonce. For a more contemporary take, The Ramp also sent out the trend worn with dark skinny pants or the now ubiquitous sheer skirt. Another tip from the show: wear the peplum free of overpowering too-colorful prints and with the fiercest heels for major femme fatale points.

Moving on from the peplum, we also come face-to-face with another fashion fear: paisley! Overlooked by the hipster set and nearly forgotten even by tie wearers, the vintage print is, if you look to The Ramp’s newest collection, the print to have this season.

Colorfully festooning shift dresses, men’s dress shirts, drainpipe pants and even the inside lining of mullet skirts, the tear-shaped print is making a ferocious comeback. At The Ramp show, they’re paired with pastel-colored Bermuda shorts, slim leg-elongating skirts and tailored jackets. Displayed in summery colors like sunny yellow and sky blue, the print proves viable even on kids’ clothing.

Other visible trends in The Ramp show point to optic prints, mullet skirts, severe mannish silhouettes and colorful checks — trends that all point to one conclusion: fashion fearlessness.