Singapore’s Audi Fashion Festival closed with a greatly applauded show from Hussein Chalayan. The designer presented his Autumn/Winter 2013 collection that began with urban looks. Jackets were appealing. Denim jeans, tweaked to give an interesting finishing, was a statement. Beautiful dresses were then paraded on the runway. What intrigued me most were the garments that were embellished with what looked like peeled pieces of paper.

On the same night, Hussein Chalayan received “Fashion Visionary Award” for 20 years of Excellency in Design. Chalayan graduated in 1993 from London’s Central Saint Martins School of Art and Design. A year after, he launched his own label. He was named as British Designer of the Year in 1999 and in 2000. “Fashion’s arch avant-gardist”, “Fashion’s big thinker”, “Fashion’s resident mad scientist”, were some of the descriptions associated to him, for his continuous innovation in fashion. Sources : British Fashion Awards, Chalayan, Vogue, Style

“I want you to stay”, the last words that were pronounced from the runway music played during the show of Dubai-based Filipino designer Michael Cinco. It was emotional. The melodramatic instrumental soundtrack continued. Listening to it while watching models walk, and dramatize, wearing clothes from the designer, I could not help it but to be moved. The direction from lighting to scenography, conceptualized and executed by Ariel Lozada, made it more powerful. What Michael Cinco showed was not just beautiful clothes, but a poignant moment to ponder on.

The designer successfully opened the Holiday 2013 of Philippine Fashion Week with what he is known for, couture designs with expensive embellishments. The show started with The Matryoshka, set of nude and white adorned frocks. It transitioned to a segment of black dresses collectively called as Russian Czarinas. It came to an end with three grand gowns. These encompass “The Impalpable Dream of Russia”, another wealthy and victorious design anthology from Michael Cinco.

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Here is one layout from Suit Armada, an editorial I photographed for Red Magazine, May issue. The shoot was held inside Rizal Shrine in Fort Santiago, Manila. Styled by Gian Romano, hair by Ronie Misa, makeup by Anton Patdu and Bryon Velasquez featuring Elite Manila models’ Henrique, Rory, and Kyung-A.

Thanks to Red’s Editor-in-chief Ria Prieto and art director Niña Muallam!