the kat's meow: Dexter Maneja

Showing posts with label Dexter Maneja. Show all posts

Monday, August 19, 2013

A-LIST: BLINDxx Creations SS13 (Official Lookbook)

If you read my last post, I'm sure you had this coming. Last week had been a very exciting week for us at local, online indie brand, Blind Clothing. We have just released our cut-and-sew line's spring-summer collection entitled: The A-List. Hurray!! :)

The whole time we were developing this collection, we had the sophisticated, sexy, smart, confident, woman in mind. We were so happy that in the shooting of our look book---our model portrayed this so well. She really looked (and acted?) the part; a huge transformation from when we last shot her for in our A|W 2013 collection. Our HMUA and photographers also did an equally great job in bringing out out that "slightly spoiled young aristocrat" vibe (whilst making sure the clothes shine through) throughout the look book in consistent great quality. I'm always amazed at how a team of left-brained people can come in unison and create something beautiful and cohesive. It's overwhelming (humbling even) being able to collaborate again with such talents, who, with their excellence in each of their fields, are able to bend a little and be good team players to meet your vision/ direction :)

Ladies and gents, may our team present to you,
Blind Creations S|S 2013:
The A-List.

We know that the whole fashion world is celebrating summer like it is in the other side of the world, while it's starting to rain here in the Philippines. So we at BLINDxx tried to bring you the best of both worlds. I mean honestly, who's over midriff tops? :)) So we give you fitted midriff tops in sets that come in thick, textured material. We made semi- silky slip dresses and slit skirts so you have the perfect inner wear to match your bombers and blazers with, or pair your sweaters with, and still look sexy. These are pieces that are friendly but luxurious enough to take you from day to night-- from shopping with the girls to a big dinner party-- something you can wear out on a hot day, or layer with on a cold day (atleast in the tropics).

This is a collection mainly pegged on chic luxe. With the influx of mass produced clothes coming into the market, this collection craves for: good clothing structure and construction, and the subtle sexiness and elegance that understated but flattering shape and proportion gives the female body. It is a celebration of good print palettes, rich textures, and sophisticated cuts.

Good news is, we are now open for orders.

Shop our latest collection here. Enjoy! :)

************************
Photographers: Dexter and Shanida Maneja

Model: Christine Morrill

HMUA: James Kenneth Canete

Styling, Creative Direction: Yours truly with Ninz Sy

All clothes by: Blind Clothing

With special thanks to:

The Chillage Urban Zone (location)
Buddy

Swing

Thanks again to the team! x

Tuesday, August 13, 2013

A-LIST: Blind Clothing SS|13

I remember when I landed back in Cebu from all the board exams shiz last March, the first thing I was so hasty to work on was Blind Clothing's next cut-and-sew collection. Ninz and I dug through our idea jar for inspirations, searched for fabric, and started working on prototypes and trying to get them right. I am not a fashion designer by profession but I don't recall being as obsessive compulsive in our pieces as much as I have now. I guess all the working with the furniture factory taught me the value of construction detail, putting dimensions in everything, keeping a keen eye on the every cut, and basically making it easy for the tailor to get it right. Fast forward to 4 months after, our 13-piece collection is finally complete. Hurray! :)

Our incoming collection is basically pegged on chic luxe. With the influx of clothes coming into the market like curry in hong kong, and kwek-kwek in the Philippines, we found ourselves looking for good clothing structure, good shape and proportion, good color palettes, and of course texture texture texture!

A good team of super talented artists were so kind as to collaborate with us in helping us come up with our look book just for you: Dexter and Shanida Maneja (photographers) , James Canete (hair and make-up), and Christine Morrill (model)... also the very warm and fun Chillage team were so accommodating as to let us shoot in their very chic home exuding with all sorts of good vibe and positive energy it almost makes you high!

So please please please... come join as we launch "THE A-LIST" tomorrow, August 14 (Wednesday) at 8 on our facebook page! Let me leave you with our teaser video! See you all! x

Thursday, August 23, 2012

A rush of gold, A stroke of genius

Sometime in between my going-out ban last July, I found time to style for a good friend's S/S 2012 collection-- that of promising theatrical designer Jerrick Macasocol. I'm a believer of Jerrick. For a man, he seems to be so familar with the contours of the female body because his designs are some of the most form- flattering pieces I've seen. Also, his inclination to unlikely materials for creating something wearable and avant-garde (like paper, gluesticks, safety pins) is just, commendable. He's the first designer I've ever pulled out from when I started styling not so long ago. :)

But more than all these, Jerrick, just like the entire team behind this shoot (Ryle Young and the Maneja powecouple), is one really genuinely nice, passionate, down-to-earth-person-- now that\s something not so easy to find around a somewhat lofty industry, I swear.

Our work got featured on LIVE! Section on Sunstar last Aug 17, 2012. I'm grateful for this opportunity and once again, It's a pleasure and honor working with personally, some of the best in their craft; and every minute a joy working with people who are almost like family.

Here are the other photos, including those that weren't published.

I had 5 days to prepare for this shoot and the challenge I imposed on myself is to achieve a minimalist look so the designer's creation can just shine through. I had to think more about the feet to hair since I must cut back on my usual accessorizing/ layering/ diy-ing props. It had to be minimal but not deprived of that high fashion elegance. It was quite hard. :)) I've come to realize that in styling, It's harder to subtract than to add.

I think everyone from the model, mua, to the photographers did an amazing job. I can only hope I did them justice.Enjoy :)