Summer staples such as nautical colors, pastels, florals, stripes, bermuda shorts and cropped pants heralded this season’s fashion statement at the Shangri-La Plaza.
“Sun, Sand and Squad” was inspired by the water, the beach and boating. Director Jackie Aquino turned the East Atrium into a deck of a cruise ship for the stage, with an LED video of the sea as the backdrop.
Stylists Mike de Guzman of MGP Style and Luis Espiritu Jr. researched on current trends and translated them with clothes and accessories from over 40 brands.
For day dressing, MGP Style recommended nautical colors, greens, bold stripes and denims for young adults and children. Men and children wore tropical prints and neutrals. Pastels were a counterpoint to the bold red, white and blue color theme of the children’s wear.
Stripes and florals in different scales were combined in one outfit for visual impact. To stay current, the looks were embellished with bucket hats, cycling shades, belt bags and visors.
Espiritu adopted the season’s forecast for the dressier clothes. “The trend is handcrafting with a lot of crochet and embroidery,” he said. Dresses and blouses were adorned with lacework, appliqués and pleating. Graphic-printed florals also made a bold statement for the ladies’ wear.
The stylist favored various shades of blue for evening wear. Men came in navy and teal suits while the women paraded in cocktail dresses and gowns in hues from baby blue to sapphire.
Store-driven
Danila Regina “Lala” Fojas, executive vice president and general manager of Shangri-La Corp., said majority of sales are still driven by traditional stores as their e-commerce is still in its infancy.
The summer fashion shows gave shoppers the chance to see the quality of the clothes and visit the stores immediately to feel and inspect the merchandise.
“We’d like to provide our retail partners with a vehicle to show their collection. It gives mall guests an opportunity to see what’s there at the mall,” she said.
On how fashion shows boost the mall’s brand equity, Fojas explained, “The selection of the clothes is classy, young and vibrant, which is aligned with our brand equity. Although we are a classic after 28 years, we have become more welcoming. We continue to be upscale, but we have local brands such as Gingersnaps, Just G, Folded & Hung, and SZ Vizcarra that cater to a broader market.”
Fojas added that the 600-store mall has been experiencing significant growth in revenues with the addition of new outlets and the expansion of existing brands. In fashion, boutiques specializing in bags and accessories remain the top sellers, followed by skincare and cosmetics. —CONTRIBUTED
