PHILIPPINE FASHION WEEK SPRING-SUMMER 2011: SM DEPARTMENT STORE

PHILIPPINE FASHION WEEK SPRING-SUMMER 2011: SM DEPARTMENT STORE

The retail bigwig keeps up with the fashion scene with trendy and up-to-the-minute styles.

 

The SM Department Store Spring / Summer 2011 collection is a mélange of diversified trends that could, conveniently, cross fashion borders—age, lifestyle and preferences. It features a range of looks from classic to hip, all from the Ladies' Wear,Men's Wear and Parisian Shoes.

Ladies Wear

The show started with Jazz Age pieces—tiered granny dresses and cocktail numbers in black lace over nude jersey; tulip skirts in ruched tulle, sparkling sequins or a flock of feathers; sequined asymmetric tops and dresses. Our Twitpic feed got happy reactions from posts of a cropped sequined top over jersey carrot pants and the sandy beige, narrow maxi skirt.

Color blocking also got nods of approval. Bright combinations like fire engine red and indigo, aqua and pink, or apple green and teal were shown with solid shades of striking reds, melons, chartreuse, and turquoise.

Sheer ruffled shirts were tucked into black bodycon minis or white tweedy shorts for a look that was both uptown and young.

A preview of summer’s beachwear revealed a color palette that was neon bright. Graphic prints of abstracted flora and fauna dominated the sundresses while swimmies ran through solid shades of aqua, pink, and black.

Men’s Wear

There was a whole lot of denim in the men’s line-up; the denim on denim look was particularly nice. Jackets, vests, and long-sleeved shirts, however, seemed more for the current season than Spring/Summer 2011.

As in the designer Men’s Wear Collections, light colored mismatched suits made an appearance, looking more for travel abroad. The separates—polo, trousers, and blazer—looked easy enough to incorporate into a typical work wardrobe for the summer. We’ll be seeing shades of khaki, blue, and a rusty orange this summer.

The bags are particularly noteworthy—looking like worn in leather—and I know many a man and woman who wouldn’t mind toting them along to work.

When the cardigans, with their bright hued trim, started popping up, the idea that SM’s in-house designers and merchandisers did their research on London style came to mind. The look was very preppy but street: a checkered tie on checkered shirt, button down jumpers over shorts or cotton trousers, and some play on color blocking as well.

Parisian Shoes

Finally, from the Ladies’ Shoe Section—a highly-anticipated set following last season’s widely liked collection—statement shoes abound, however, with a mix of fall styles. Popular designs of platform sandals, lace-ups, and wedged booties (mostly inspired by designer pieces like Martin Margiela, YSL, and Dries Van Noten among others) caught the eye of many a frugalista at the small installation, even before the show.

Whether SM Department Store has maintained its friendly price points even with its constantly fresh designs, we’ll find out when we hit the stores. Some of the pieces showcased are already available at the stores; the rest will arrive early next year.