Philippine Fashion Week fall/winter 09 Womenswear Top Picks

Again, I present my biased choices, from the collections of PFW f/w 09, if i were a girl. It includes:

CZARINA VILLA

When this cardi went out of the runway, I instantly fell in love with it. It's fasyon but not overt. Just enough of a statement piece. I think Czarina calls it the 'palabok', likened to a Pinoy noodle dish. It's so textural and tactile to look at. I want one ;) The whole look is chica!

CIEGE CAGALAWAN

From his 30-piece collection, the section I adored was the Chinoi inflected one. The pieces grouped here were peppered in the collection but in my opinion more stronger when together. It did remind me of Vivienne Tam, though, which is not a bad thing because it's really difficult to work on such theme without coming up with something that screams Chinese New Year costumes. It's the versatility, play of print and the mix of colors that made me fall in love with these pieces.

DIMPLE LIM

It's easy to say that Dimple's pieces are sculptural. But there's also something quite emotional about it. Not only are they statement pieces like wearable art but it's something empowering and quite direct in revealing about the wearer's predilection for intellectual dressing. It's for women who are confident about their personality, who embrace fashion and is not afraid to be looked at. Just 'cute, girly, sexy' style wouldn't cut for these women.

REGINE DULAY

I love the raw statement Regine is saying here. I love the drapes and barbaric mode the pieces convey. There's something quite 'ethnic' about the pieces but in a sort of naive way. It really looks fresh to me simply because many of the collections I've seen seems to be so overdesigned or overstyled in my eyes. Remove the clothes from the runway context or the way it's styled and it wouldn't be great as individual pieces, non?

NORMAN NORIEGA

My top choice goes to this collection because it's pieces I want and looks I see that's grounded on the idea of modern dressing. Love the bright red pop mixed with graphic black.

It's so sensible in it's simplicity without being too common. The woven vest enhances the cool effect of the whole ensembles.

It's chic! Wear a skinny jacket and pants under the sheath and it becomes another style.

Totally pragmatic and practical. I don't know why Norman is still not signed up with some local brand to do a sensible capsule collection.

And, of course, there's always that essential rock&roll vibe from him that I simply adore.

photos by Bruce Casanova of this post and this. Thank you!