we filipinos are very familiar with the phrase “coca-cola body” and how in the 70′s and 80′s it was a rather hip compliment, if not sometimes tacky and all too fresh, for shapely female physiques. little did we know then that the real coca-cola body, that is, the contoured bottle that has quite become an icon itself, would be clothed by some of the most illustrious names in fashion.

this year, it’s karl lagerfeld (once again). we know how he lost 90 pounds on a strict diet of stewed veggies and diet coke (which he says he drinks in a crystal goblet. wouldn’t be surprised if this is indeed true). or how he is often photographed with diet coke in his hand. we also know how this has become a hydration staple for many models. the drink now probably occupies its own food group in the fashion world.

models coco rocha, jeneil williams, heidi mount for karl lagerfeld’s limited edition diet coke designer bottles

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meet gertie hermanos, our petite designer friend with huge talent! proof that good things indeed come in small packages.

gertie with representatives from sassa and models wearing her designs.

gertie and i became friends in a fashion school where we both took a course in pattern-making. in the middle of our series of classes, she started working in a company that specializes in swimwear and active wear.

in no time, this brand, sassa, came out with some of the most attractive fashion for the beach: bikinis, tankinis, rash guards, board shorts in very exciting shapes and colors! this year, with their ever-growing repertoire of items for the active woman, they came out with a collection of sports and gym wear: tank tops, pullovers, capris, jazz pants and zip jackets, all with the trademark fresh and youthful vibe that has come to be known as sassa.

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ok, i used to like vera wang, now i positively adore her. she was in last night’s idol studio audience. she happened to outfit michelle delamor for that episode.

in a white top that looks like a miniature version of vera’s opulent wedding gowns, cropped motorcyle jacket, cutaway gloves, black tights and leather boots, michelle took on a biker bride ensemble and was obviously the night’s best dressed contestant. i wonder, will vera wang come out with a line of ready-to-wear like this? i sure hope so.

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happy birthday, elvis presley!

january is the month when we are reminded of the good old days of rock n’ roll. elvis’ birthday on the eighth then american idol auditions kick off a few days after that. it is a well-known fact that elvis is the most impersonated celebrity in the world, so it should be no surprise that ai auditions are awash with elvis wannabes who not only attempt to sing his songs, but also try their best to resurrect the swagger and the wardrobe.

it is easy to see that although we remember him best for the music, we remember most how he looks in dazzling white jumpsuits decked to high heavens. from the towering napoleonic collars to the sweeping bell bottoms, the billowing capes to the edwardian cuffs, these suits represented the mania of an entire generation.

do you know that he wore this style in several other colors?

so how much exactly do these costumes factor into elvis’ star quality? a whole darn lot enough for he himself to quip, “if the songs don’t go over, we can do a medley of costumes.”

so i believe now is our chance to give credit where credit is due. at the time when designers and stylists weren’t granted too much publicity to steal the singers’ thunder (as opposed to what’s happening now), when parsons didn’t have project runway yet to make it a household name, one of the design school’s distinctive graduates stepped into the world of music as the creative mind responsible for elvis’ now iconic jumpsuits. meet bill belew, the man behind the design.

aside from elvis, bill belew created outfits and stage costumes for such legends as ella fitzgerald, josephine baker, dionne warwick, gladys knight, brooke shields, gloria estefan, joan rivers, roberta flack, the osmonds and the jackson 5 among many others. click here to read a comprehensive interview with belew.

it is without a doubt that belew’s success in costume design extends much further than the stage on which his clients performed and lasts far longer than the decades when his outfits were all the rage. to this very day, rock n’ roll fans don the frocks for events that include very unrelated occasions. you know, like weddings.

of course, there are still many artists today who pay homage to the king by performing his songs and reworking the designs for their performance.

kurt and bart for britney spears.

bill belew left us two years ago yesterday, january 7, at the age of 78. he joined the king of rock n’ roll a day before the anniversary of his birthday. it was at that time when i was grateful i had faith in an afterlife. so despite the sad news, i thought happily of belew meeting elvis again after 30 years to greet him “happy birthday”.

here is a fitting video tribute to this talented designer. elvis in 54 jumpsuits.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WbdXjGMXYWI&hl=en_US&fs=1&]

i know it’s a little late, but i’d also like to say farewell, bill belew. your talent lives on with elvis and rock n’ roll.

elvis presley and bill belew photos from epgold.

i am still on hiatus. but i feel as if i have to post this one immediately.

prior to the season debut of project runway philippines 2, i had already wanted badly to write about patrick galang. i intended to post this before i went on hiatus, but i encountered serious time constraints. perhaps it was a providential accident: now that he won the first challenge in the season 2 debut of project runway philippines (where he is dubbed “the prodigy”), there is no better time to write about this very talented individual than today.

 

when patrick took a stint as design apprentice, we became co-workers briefly in the retail company i used to work for, and although i belonged to the department most diametrically different from the merchandise division, i got the rare opportunity to get to know him through our training sessions and through a few lunch hours.

over manuals and meals, i casually got to know patrick, how he started, how he managed to juggle fashion and a full-time job, what motivated him most. largely self-taught, pooling resources as best as he can, operating on nothing but a keen sense of style coupled with a staunch determination like you’ve never seen, patrick was able to participate in the philippine fashion week and was eventually recognized by media and the industry at large.

here, i attempt to recreate our casual conversations through an online interview. get to know patrick galang:

please tell us a little about yourself.

My name is Patrick Galang, 25 yrs old, based in San Pedro, Laguna. Before becoming a full time designer, I used to work in call centers for 3 yrs.

what is your educational background? did you study to be a fashion designer?

I studied in Slim’s Fashion and Arts School in Makati but I dropped out because I had to work full-time. Most of the things that I learned in fashion are self-taught, as well as designing and patternmaking.

mega magazine july 2009

how did you start as a designer? have you always wanted to be one?

I’ve always wanted to be one. I started as a stylist, a small time one, then doing side by side jobs to keep me up. I experienced a day with no sleep running around for work in between. That’s how i love what I’m doing. Early in 2008, while I was working as a call center agent, I presented my debut collection in Philippine Fashion Week, right then and there, I got magazine features and all…

how would you describe your artistic style? do you have a fashion philosophy?

My style as a designer is strong and independent. I love how the sophistication of my designs add character to the person who wears it.

preview september 2008

where do you find inspiration?

I love to think spontaneously. It’s like zoning on a scene and redress people’s clothes.

what awards/recognitions have you received?

My first two collections were recognized as best collection for Philippine Fashion Week by Mega Magazine. When i was a student, i was awarded as best designer for Seventen Magazine design competition in 2004.

in what fashion shows have you participated? solo shows? what was the experience like?

Philippine Fashion Week is the only major show i’ve participated in. It was hard for me since i was also working in a call center when i had those shows. I was in between 2 jobs. No sleep, No rest. It made me strong because this is my passion and this is what i live for.

mega magazine feature

which designers do you look up to?

Since childhood, I really admire Alexander McQueen for the great talent he has.

what’s the profile of your target market?

Right now, I’m focusing on more wearable clothes. Clothes that can be worn globally.

what is next for patrick galang?

I’m part of Project Runway Philippines Season 2. After that, My 30-piece Fashion Show next year will be presented in the Philippine Fashion Week.

all photos lifted from undernourished.multiply.com