Booking Mrs. Herrera

One of the highlights of my 2016 was when I got to see the Carolina Herrera retrospective exhibit at SCAD in Atlanta.

During that exhibit, they were selling a book which chronicled her 35 years in fashion. It was a beautifully art directed and photographed coffee table book, and I wanted to get a copy.

Unfortunately, I started packing and immediately knew that I wouldn't have space for it in my luggage. Aside from the book being quite large, it was also heavy. So, there was a problem both in space and weight.

This weekend, I dropped by National Bookstore, and lo and behold!

It's the same book I wanted to buy!

Not only was it available at National Bookstore, it was at 90% off! Seriously, it was less than P500!

It might have come 2 years later, but it's worth it! (Literally and figuratively.)

Carolina in my mind

Since I only had more than a week to spend in GA, I decided to spend as much time as I could with family.

But there was one thing I knew I had to do while I was there. There was an exhibit of Carolina Herrera's work at SCAD, and who would pass up the chance to see that, right?

I'm a huge fan of Carolina Herrera. In fact, I've written about her several times on this blog. The opportunity to see her work up close and personal isn't something that happens often. And I'm glad that I had the chance to do so.

The great thing about the exhibit is that it dates back all the way to her beginnings in fashion. I wasn't familiar with her work back in the 80s, and seeing her creations from that decade was a thrill. It goes to show that she had a strong vision and aesthetic even as she was just starting.

(Some Carolina Herrera originals from the 80s)

Another thrill came from the fact that some of the gowns I saw in person were famous gowns worn by some of my favorite celebrities. Gosh, I used to just look at these gowns in magazines, and now, I was in front of the actual thing!

One of those gowns was Taylor Swift's! And it's no secret that I love me some Taylor!

(Taylor Swift wore this!)

Another memorable piece was the wedding gown worn by Bella Swan (aka Kristen Stewart) in the film "Twilight."

(When I first saw this gown in the film, my first question was "Who made that?")

For hours, I just went around and around and around the exhibit, marveling at all the gorgeous creations of Carolina Herrera. And having seen a lot of her work in magazines and photos, they're no way as awesome as the original.

This museum visit was so inspirational, I think I'll bring out my chicken scratch pad and chicken scratch something very soon.

FMM: Oh, Carolina!

Yesterday, I was able to check out this exhibit at the Savannah College of Arts and Design:

Needless to say, it inspired today's Friday Magic Madness song.



This song was huge in the 90s, and almost everyone danced to it.

But apart from the name, these 2 Carolinas have no similarity whatsoever.

Carolina's back

Whenever I look at a design, I pay attention to the back as much as I do the front. That's why among my design pet peeves are: prints that don't reach the back of the garment, gartered back portions, and clunky zippers.

Looking at Carolina Herrera's current collection, I can see a lot of artfully designed backs. And that makes me giddy.

This photo is inspiring me to sketch something with a dramatic back!

Oh Carolina!

Carolina Herrera is, hands down, one of the most elegant women in fashion today. Everything about her reads refined elegance. Her face and demeanor has class written all over it. It's something that reflects in her designs, and is captured by her go-to ensemble - a crisp, white shirt and a ball skirt.

During the weekend, there were a lot of stores on sale. So, I thought of whipping up a look that's inspired by Carolina Herrera. And a trip to 2 department stores yielded this:

The classic white shirt is from SM Department Store. It has that right amount of crisp, and the folded sleeves make it look more modern.

The full, floral skirt is a find from The Landmark. The pastel colors make it feel light and airy, despite it being full and weighty.

Combined, these 2 pieces create an ensemble that's as classic and refined as the woman who inspired it.

Now, it's time for Ate to bring out her inner Carolina.

One dress, two ways: Skirting the issue

Once again, fashion is reinterpreting the past and bringing it to the present. In the 40s, 50s and 60s, the circle skirt was a recurring trend. It must've been all the boogie-ing back in those days.

It's a trend that's been on the runways the past few seasons. Even in the Philippines, the circle skirt is making a resurgence. Several local brands have come up with their own versions, including this one from SM Department Store.

Apart from the 60s silhouette, this skirt also has a very 60s floral print. Methinks it's prints charming. Harhar.

The current trend is to pair a circle skirt with a cropped top, or a sleeveless top. Just like this fuchsia top from the GTW brand, also at SM.

Tucked into the skirt, it looks modern and easy.

Another way of wearing it is by paying homage to the decade when it first appeared. Just like this nubby peach shirt.

This pair looks very 50s, and you can almost hear the Andersen Sisters singing while this outfit is swinging.

There are a lot of other ways to wear this skirt. Among them, pair it with a white shirt like Carolina Herrera, or a cropped top like most young things wear it now.

How's that for versatility?