BCBG MAX Azria, under Linear Group Philippines, the Los Angeles-based ready-to-wear label’s new and exclusive local distributor, recently presented the brand’s 2013 “spring trend” collection featuring floral-printed and color-blocked dresses and separates in skimming and figure-hugging lines.

For the afternoon fashion show’s finale, models wore long dresses in soft fabrics in such solid colors as royal blue, cherry red, white and black. Inspired by “modern fairy tales,” some  pieces were combined with see-through material that managed to work well with the dresses’ edgy vibe, eclectic inspiration and close-to-the-body silhouette.

At the same time, certain soft, flowing numbers duplicated the look but not the feel of faded denim combined with iconic bandana prints typically found on oversized hankies.

And despite the use of printed blooms, a good number of pieces managed to look fresh and far from predictable with the inclusion of certain elements such as strategically placed solid panels, sashes and tricky print combinations.

Standalone

The show at BCBG’s first and so far only standalone store at Bonifacio High Street Central also marked the brand’s complete break from Rustan’s, its former local distributor.

“There are still some good BCBG pieces left that are being sold at Rustan’s,” said Kat Florencio, director of Linear Group. “But since December 2012, we have been the brand’s exclusive distributor in the country. We now carry all the new pieces.”

Unlike other brands, BCBG, under Tunisia-born chair and creative director Max Azria, presents more than two collections per year.

“Most ready-to-wear brands usually present twice a year, spring-summer and fall-winter,” said Florencio. “In BCBG’s case, we have new collections every month. Since spring, for instance, lasts three months, we would have three collections before the current season is over.”

Apart from dresses, BCBG’s Bonifacio High Street boutique also has women’s accessories, including bags.

Florencio, wife of jeweler and watch dealer Raffy Florencio, plans to open BCBG boutiques in Greenbelt and Shangri-La Plaza by July. For the meantime, the brand has a “pop-up” store at Shangri-La to serve customers in that area.

BCBG is really known for color blocking and the use of prints, said Florencio. Reinterpreting these elements and giving them a fresh spin has always been something the brand’s fans and loyal clients look forward to.

PHOTOS BY ALANAH TORRALBA