‘We offer over-the-top, feminine and exuberant clothes that are sure to get someone noticed in a crowd’

WHAT’S IN A NAME: “We wanted the brand to represent clothes that depict a certain fascination for nightlife, parties, shows and other social gatherings,” Nina shares. “Glitterati, defined as ‘the fashionable set of people engaged in show business or some other glamorous activity,’ was just the perfect name for it.”

Humble beginnings: What began as a frenzied collection of loud tutus, cocktail dresses and jumpsuits almost a year ago was brought on by the pair’s heady devotion to clothing. “We get a different high from dressing up,” says Nina. “We love our clothes but loved them even more when we added some details to it like tulle, sequins or chains. From that, we decided to create a small online shop that would cater to girls like us who love clothes that are a little bit exaggerated.”

Brand philosophy: “We observed that there were too many basic clothes available in retail, but there was a scarcity of stand-out pieces,” says JL. “It’s Glitterati’s aim to offer over-the-top, feminine and exuberant clothes that are sure to get someone noticed in a crowd.”

Design aesthetics: It’s eccentricity incorporated in fierce styles with a hint of current trends. “Glitterati is neither ordinary nor plain; it’s one-of-a-kind, special-occasion clothing to wear on nights out, and is a vivid reflection of our own style,” quips Nina.

Stirring the senses: The two ladies are also inspired by the heart-stopping creations of John Galliano for Christian Dior, Vivienne Westwood, Betsey Johnson, Riccardo Tisci for Givenchy, Martin Margiela, Alexander Wang, Hussein Chalayan, Viktor & Rolf, and Christophe Decarnin for Balmain. “We also love the clever interpretations of fashion bloggers Jane Aldrige of www.seaofshoes.com, Karla of www.karlascloset.com, and Rumi of www.fashiontoast.com,” adds JL.

Load up: Being big fans of ballet when they were young, the brand has tutus and tulle pieces that are reincarnated in every collection. “There’s nothing more celebratory (and princess-y) than a full tulle skirt. In fact, most of our clients have commented that they’d been searching for the perfect party skirt for a long time and they found it in our tutus,” shares Nina.

Looking ahead: Already on their sixth collection in a span of 10 months, the girls will go for more luxury, variety and attitude as the dominant theme of new collections until the end of the year. Plus, an added line of trendy cinchers to tie these holiday pieces together, and a bikini line to complement the next summer’s collection.

Price range: Skirts go for P850 to P1,400; cocktail frocks at P1,250 to P2,350; and gowns and formal pieces from P2,500 up.