Smart casual is how Manila’s art lovers and friends of beautiful Marivic Rufino showed up for her latest watercolor painting show at the Peninsula last month.

Titled “Romanza II,” this was Marivic’s 17th exhibit. The pastel colored abstracts and surreal series had been premiered in Madrid last June. Proceeds of the sale of her art will go to Saint Mary’s House in Tagaytay.

Some furniture like a satin upholstered love seat, a screen as a canvas for her colors, now in acrylic but watered down to look like watercolor, and even some soft throw pillows were also part of the exhibit; Marivic called these “soft art.” The standout was a hand-painted lamp that lit up Marivic’s colors in a way sunshine does early in the morning.

See how the ladies came in complementing or contrasting colors to blend in or stand out during the cocktail reception. These gals know how art imitates life, and dressing expresses the fine art of being alive.