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Baddeo's Alluring Women Of Power
Inspired by such remarable women as Michelle Obama, Oprah Winfrey, Loren Legarda and Boots Anson-Roa, fashion design artist Eddie Baddeo presented a strong collection worthy to be worn by these alluring ladies of power.
The Philippine Fashion Week at the SMX Convention Center is one of the best platforms to showcase his glamorous creations, the maverick designer buckled down to work and joined a sterling lineup on "Grand Allure Night."
Knowing that the Grand Allure Section is generally considered Couture Night, Baddeo displayed his mastery of draping with a 10-piece collection made of stretch satin and sil cocoon.
His grand statement? Sculptured sleeves he deftly manipulated, shaped and molded into sinuous accent for his jewel-toned floor-sweeping gowns.
Statuesque models, in towering Wilson stilettos, looked rich and luxurious in hair and makeup by Jinky Ilusorio and Rudy Adriatico, Director Raymond Villanueva set the evening to a romantic mood.
"The atmosphere is the '80s, when peop;e were brimming with optimism and everyone was just happy! At that time, YSL and Ungaro came up eith clothes that were vibrant and colorful,: Baddeo says.
Sharply constructed, with the necklines as the focal point, Baddeo admits that his exquisite creations drew heavy inspiration from strong women in powerful positions.
After all, only women of substance and a certain dynamism can carry the gowns with panache and aplomb.
“I also plan to have a shop here [Manila] as well as in Cebu. Enough of being a slave outside the country!” echoes first runner-up Philipp Tampus, the Lapu-Lapu City native who toiled for years in the Middle East. “I want to dress up Kris Aquino, because she is maingay and magandang endorser!”
Tampus, The Romantic, unleashed an “ethereal” collection of lace and crochet that belied his Arab references. “It was really torture on my part to edit and edit my collection,” he recalls with a heavy sigh. His Arab clientele, he says, are fond of embellishments, “but this was a competition. Gusto ko sana ilabas lahat! But I showed my range, from swimwear to gowns. Pero tame na yun!”
Amid the Saluds, Peraltas, Madambas and distinguished young designers that showed spectacularly at the recently concluded Philippine Fashion Week, there was Sassa Jimenez. Out of fashion thin air, this burgeoning talent shone brightly at the SMX Convention Center in Runway Productions’ biggest fete yet of the country’s style-setters and trend-minders.
Jimenez displayed a range well beyond her 21 years. She experimented with draping and gathering in a pink “rose” skirt with a black cowl neck top. “But I didn’t want it to look too complicated so I decided to make just one area of the skirt the focal point, so I ended up with a textured portion near the bottom that resembles a rose beaming outwards on the skirt.”
THOUGH not aired on the two biggest networks in the land, the runaway television hit of the season is Project Runway Philippines (PRP) on ETC/SBN 21. Well, at least among fashionistas and similar crowds. A Filipinized adaptation of the Peabody Award-winning show, PRP had Teresa Herrera, Rajo Laurel, Apples Aberin-Sadhwani and Jojie Lloren as our approximations of, respectively, Heidi Klum, Michael Kors, Nina Garcia and Tim Gunn. 
Tampus showcased his romantic streak with a beautiful collection dominated by his deft manipulation of crochet and lace. This was an offshoot of his piece from the Wedding Challenge (Episode 6). Lagat brandished his mastery of tailoring with his “More Than a Woman” line of precise, well-constructed, stupendous clothes. That was a progression from his 2006 Mega Young Designers Competition entry of technically superior work. 
Each finalist was allotted three months and were given a six-figure budget to make their collections. “I knew Philipp’s strength is couture and Aries will do avant-garde, and since the challenge that I won was about retail [Cinderella RTW Challenge, Episode 9], I opted to go in that direction,” Floresca related.
Frederick Peralta, who has been making unforgettable bridal wear since the 1980s, has devoted himself—possibly more than any other fashion designer working today—to the tender notion that love should be steadfast, unbending and unconditional. This belief was evident in all its splendor when he showed a 50-piece wedding collection at the ongoing Philippine Fashion Week, illustrating his love for his craft, dedication to his brides and grooms and fidelity to his family.
A darling of the press as well of celebrities, a Peralta show wouldn’t be complete without the participation of some famous faces. Though both childless after years of marital bliss, a stunning Assunta de Rossi and a tense Agot Isidro still looked as radiant as new bride Joyce Jimenez. Young mom Valerie Concepcion and hopelessly in love Mariel Rodriguez also donned wedding ensembles.
To make his gala more memorable, Peralta created 50 looks worn by 50 models (no changes!), and for 23 kids as flower girls (with FJ, his seamstress’s daughter, stealing the show with her cute antics) and ring bearers. Like his flamboyant outfits, Peralta hardly pulled any punches for this production, and you can expect the multiawarded designer to mount another extraordinary show in the not-too-distant future.