Totally the happening last week, dahlings, was the exquisite sit-down, five-course dinner, superbly chosen and taste-tested the day before by ultra-glamorous Ching Cruz, no less, held at Nuvo in Greenbelt 2.
Naturellement, the hostess of the affair was the internationally renowned fashion designer Josie Natori!
She was tendering the dinner for the just concluded Manila FAME 2012, where she was fashion and accessories exhibit curator. She explained she had wanted to show her “gratitude for all the designers and executives of Citem who made the whole event a huge success.”
As the signature lifestyle event of Citem for the past 25 years, the 55th edition of Manila FAME featured the best in Filipino craftsmanship from home and furnishings to the first-ever Manila Wear that served as an exposition of a unified Filipino fashion.
“Manila Wear served as a preview of capsule collections of tropical wear from the country’s top and up-and-coming fashion designers under the direction of Natori,” said the Prince of Alta Moda Inno Sotto.
“In the not so distant future,” said Natori, “I would love to see Manila Wear and Manila Home become a standard reference in the design world, with such brilliant designers who featured their capsule resort wear collection, such as Inno Sotto, Ivarluski Aseron, Vic Barba, JC Buendia, Cesar Gaupo, OJ Hofer, Rajo Laurel, Jojie Lloren, Dennis Lustico, Randy Ortiz and Joey Samson.
Natori also expressed gratitude to the accessories designers who showed their collections, such as TC Alvarez, Jun Artajo, Maco Custodio, Joel Escober, Lulu Tan-Gan, Adante Layesa, Joyce Makitalo, Arnel Papa, Patrice Ramos Diaz, Gerry Sunga and Mark Tamayo.
Toast
During dinner, Josie offered a special toast to the designers and Citem executives and staff, led by executive director Rosvi Gaetos, deputy executive director Rhea Matute and senior trade industries specialist Anna Almozan, and Susan Joven of Visions and Expressions.
“It is really overwhelming and heartwarming to personally witness the great achievement of Manila FAME,” said Josie. “And with Manila Wear’s first installation of showcasing local apparel and accessories, we have received very good response from our guests and foreign buyers, as well. Our challenge now is to sustain this and make it even bigger and better in the years to come.”
She also specifically thanked Inno and Fashion Design Council of the Philippines (FDCP) president JC Buendia for their major contribution in the endeavor, palanggas.
Gaetos also expressed her happiness on the success of Manila FAME. “We are proud of this achievement and everyone in this room really played a big part to make this event unforgettable,” she said. “It was definitely a unique presentation of Filipino design that is very global in approach.”
The unassuming lady that she is, Josie extended her “heartfelt thanks to my sister-in-law and majority owner of Nuvo, Ching, who personally oversaw the elegant setting at Nuvo, with its relaxing ambience coupled by an extraordinary delicious and appetizing dinner menu.”
We were treated to Nuvo’s various specialty dishes by renowned chef Roderik Sapio that started off with the Stuffed Tiger Prawn, followed by the al dente Spaghettini Al’ Olio, then a choice of Salmon Cous Cous or the superbly done to your choices of rare, medium rare or well-done Filet Mignon, dahlings, which got a 10 from all the invitees. And lastly, a delectably sinful sweet plate of Chocolate Decadence topped with almond nuts and vanilla ice cream.
It was the perfect end to a fantastic dinner, enhanced by the chic ambience of the place. The dinner had purple table clothes with gorgeous lavender agapanthus/lily of the Nile flowers on low-wide vases, and tall, eye-catching purple lamp shades in oblong shape, with their stands in black steel, high enough for the sitter to comfortably see the person seated across him, plus cool dim-lights with small candle holders flickering around the dining tables. The elegant table setting was by no less than Isabel Diaz, wow!
I complimented Ching, calling the dinner and the décor “so classy,” approximating “New York-style dining parties.” Josie agreed, “Yes! And also so Hollywood-chic!”
Also enjoying the fun and relaxed dinner were namedroppables from global fashion retail consultant for Federated and former president of Donna Karan, charmant Joe Ciccio; Loftex USA vice president James Booth; and Natori vice president and design director witty David Leung, palanggas.
Check out Natori outlets in Rustan’s Makati and Rustan’s Tower in Shangri-La Mall Edsa.