Behind the Seams: SoFA graduation fashion show

This is the second graduation show of my school SoFA. I’ve watched the first one in Philippine Fashion Week this was not any less exciting since my friends are graduating! Also, some alumnis and outstanding students will also show their pieces for the contests that they’ve won over the past year. I just have to say I’m so proud of you all!! So many talented people in our school and you guys really are the future of our Fashion Industry! 

I skipped going to the 30 seconds to Mars concert to see this. I know I would be so tired and I had to wake up early again the next day. So I gave my tickets away. Pinagpalit ko si Jared Leto sainyo kaya dapat maganda talaga show na to!

This post is the behind the scenes since I was juggling heads for this evening. Originally my task was just to be backstage to help style/dress models and lessen the chaos but then I was also photographing for Ms. Marina Benipayo’s column for Inquirer and was asked by Ms. Amina Aranaz-Alunan to voice over the event. So, here I was again multi tasking.

Early day hitting up Rockwell to get caffeine and off the the Loft of Manansala. I was asked so many times what my lipstick was. People guess Jungle Red by Mac or even YSL’s expensive line of red rouged lipsticks but hey mine was Ever Bilena :) Less than a hundred pesos, if I remembered correctly. Filipino products ftw!

I was checking if Happy Lemon was open in the Archaeology section of Powerplant but nada. Sucks how Starbucks banned people from smoking but hey, rules are rules. So as I was gonna walk in my 5 inch heels to the smoking area I remembered how Sango has milk tea. (It’s located in the row of Starbucks)

& yay! Sango did have milk tea (Php 60.00 large) + smoking area and wifi! Found a chill spot. That has always been the problem for me and my boyfriend when he visits me in Rockwell if I have work. Starbucks you have met your match. :D

The loft was at the 38th floor and the view was spectacular. I’m in love with cities. If I had to choose between a house on the beach or a penthouse, I’d choose the later. I like hustle and bustles and energy. I grew up in Makati. Around this area actually. Made me miss it (but Im in Makati 80% of my time in a week haha) South is still home though. I guess my heart can belong in two places at the same time.

View of the bridge of Edsa, Pasig river & Mandaluyong. You can see the Mellow 94.7 station from here.

I saw this Jennifer Aniston movie. It was about this guy who speaks in a camp for people who had someone they love die. He’s also an author of this book about moving on. I really forgot the title, I tried googling it but let me know if you know:)

He took the group in the middle of the street in the city and asked them what they hear or see. They said noise, car horns, angry people, etc. Then he made them walk all the way up to the top of a building and saw a scenery like this. He asked them again and they said: Peace. He then told them “We will all have bad times in our life but with a few effort of climbing, you’ll find peace.”

I live through that quote. It’s why I like rooftops. 

Smoking buddies. Fashion designer Gabbie Sarenas and The Little Big Spender, Inna Santiago. 

Fashion designer Noelle Llave’s shoes, I loveee. She refused to take a photo! But hey, she’s featured on Designer Spotlight in Stylebible.ph so check her out and click here. 

SoFA teacher and all around multimedia master, Fold Canela. (I know you’re gonna hate this photo! Haha pero keri lang candid)

Models whom I hate to stand right next to! Haha.

Our Fashion Illustration professor and well known designer, Danilo Franco. Sketching everywhere!! I wish I had his talent!

(below) Zarina Agduma’s shoes <3

(above) Hi Ann! Missed you soooo. 

SHOE LUST BACKSTAGE! I was so tempted to take them home! Shoes courtesy of Wade & Janylin.

Racks of their babies. They were so beautiful! I know y’all worked so hard on these!

(above) Pristine de Guzman. Our top notcher for every term, fresh from Berlin (she represented the Philippines for Triumph’s inspirational awards) & did I mention she’s just 17 years old? So proud of you Pristine!! Sana I could’ve took a better photo of you!

(below) Last minute fittings

(above) Naloka ako, napunit dress ni Vince! Pero keri naman ni Jennifer (model who’s also my former office mate) Gow lang ng gow!

(above) She was the model na nakasabay ko sa elevator and she was eating ice cream. Tapos nag laho lang bigla sa katawan parang walang nangyari.

(below) Time for some technical rehearsals!

(below) SoFA co-founder and director Ms. Amina Aranaz-Alunan briefing everyone before doors open & Fashion designer/legend Sir. Gerry Katigbak (Who was our boss for the day. He directed the fashion show. So nice to work with him!)

The Blackberry corner: 

Blackberry launched its own version of the iPad: BlackBerry Playbook. Really cool!

Also the winners of the SoFA x BlackBerry design competition got to go home with their own BlackBerry Torch. How cool is that?? Congrats Dan & Cham!

(below) Quick dry runs of the models & collections.

(below) Check out Pristine de Guzman’s winning piece for Triumph in Berlin!

Sorry I wasn’t taking down notes. Were these Kirby’s pieces above? If so, GONDO!

(below) Personally I love how Gabbie Sarenas’ pieces are so wearable, light & feminine just like her! 

(below) MY FAVORITE PIECE OFF HER COLLECTION!

(below) Some pieces from Vince Tolentino

(Below) Make up room. Sorry i had to crowd all around and take everyones candid photos! I knew everyone was busy. Make up by Make up Forever.

(Above) One of my closest friends, fashion designer Vince Tolentino getting all glammed up.

(below) Yes we had a little girl model for Gabbie Sarenas’ collection. She was soo cute & my good friend Ela Meinecke who modeled for Blackberry.

(a) Parang galit si Marchie. Haha!

(b) During the show saw Phoemela Barranda, Preview team, Rajo Laurel and so much more. Was too busy to take photos! ;(

(a) Phoemela talking to Sir. Gerry Katigbak. Why is she so skinny!! <3

Fashion Designers Danilo Franco, Aan Pineda & Richard Papa with supermodel Marina Benipayo.

(a) The arbitrary outfit shot. Haggard kung haggard! I was so busy didn’t have time to take a photo of myself so I looked around and got this from Cielo Baraan. Thank you! If you took my photo please send it to marita.galvez@yahoo.com :)

Another photo by Tippy Sy <3 Thanks!!

Thrifted leather jacket, PRP dress, Charles & Keith bag, Gold Dot shoes

Left early around 8pm! It was raining hard again. Surprisingly it wasn’t traffic heading to South. 

Oo kailangan diyan ang placing ng kamay ko. Hahah. Compare my going home photo from the morning photo. Haggardo.

Had so much fun! Tiring but worth it! Thank you so much to everyone who helped out. Congrats to all the graduates. 

xx
McQueen 

“10” Holiday 2011 at Philippine Fashion Week

10 collections from 10 talented filipino designers, more than a hundred pieces. 
This is only a summary of the pieces that I loved. I have to be very honest. I was not thrilled by every single collection. I’m not saying some were not beautiful but it just did not fall under my category of beauty. I just would not be mentioning negativity. I felt the love from each and every piece though. I sat 2nd row which gave me a good distance from the details. I have so much respect for artists.

Monochromatic palette, prints of architecture and silhouettes that took me to the era of the Maria Claras. Philippine indigenous textile and inspiration, redefined with modern hem lines and embellishments.

Victorian/Renaissance feel with lots of Velvet, taffeta, lace and elegance.

My favorite collection in this show. Such strong androgynous pieces. Balance of masculine and feminine which is how I generally explain my style. I think that’s why I loved it. I could see myself wear them. Indigenous textile, oversized laced bibs, beautiful silk tafettas, appropriate hem lines styled to perfection.

Berry & mint tones patterned with a patent silica. Simple shift silhouettes and big voluptuous hair by Loreal Paris.

Patterned tent skirts, Bright colors, cheetah prints, beaded fabric and a stunning pastel pink filipino inspired wedding dress. The extra touch of veil and seraphim music made everyone hold their breaths.

A simple highlight from collections of: Danilo Franco, Slims (Salvacion Lim Higgins) and Johnny Abad.

Photos by: Nicole Ramos (http://thatnicoleramos.tumblr.com/)