Bench head and retail mogul Ben Chan (in photo, right) follows the dance moves of designer Rajo Laurel at the latter's fashion show for Philippine Fashion Week Holiday 2012. Photo by Peter C. Marquez, InterAksyon.com.
Two fashion shows by two distinguished Philippine fashion designers, one giant retail brand tapping the two’s expertise and creative genius easily made Bench’s two-in-one fashion bash a must-attend on the last day of Philippine Fashion Week, May 27, Sunday, at the SMX Convention Center in Manila. This year is a milestone for the global Filipino retail company as it celebrates its 25th year in the industry.
At 7 p.m., guests were led to Function Hall 4 where a whimsical set awaits for Dubai-based fashion designer Michael Cinco’s fashion show and launch of his scent Impalpable. The curiosity of the audience—consisting of VIPs from lifestyle media, fashion bloggers, celebrities, and members of high society—was roused by the Victorian garden perhaps set in fall, strewn with dried leaves, a tree lush with white feathers, park benches, and an iron pergola to match.
The ethereal mood continued as models walked on the ramp wearing Cinco’s luxurious gowns—beaded bodices, encrusted with crystals, and sewn over generous layers of ruffled, laced, or feathery ball gown or mermaid skirts. All gowns that look amazingly beautiful front and back—Michael Cinco, the design god, is in the details.
Dubai-based fashion designer showed off his creative genius and exquisite craftsmanship with his trademark luxurious and embellished gowns. Photo by Peter C. Marquez, InterAksyon.com.
A striking Michael Cinco gown with crystals and intricate lacework. Photo by Peter C. Marquez, InterAksyon.com.
Cinco’s Impalpable Dream, the latest fragrance of the Bench Designer Scents Collection, carries bergamot and mandarin for its tops notes followed by a twist of green tea and black currant. Woodsy Galbanum and musk form the base of this unisex scent.
Fashion designer Michael Cinco with his Impalpable Dream muses and America's Next Top Model runners-up Dominique Reighard (left) and Allison Harvard (right). Photo by Peter C. Marquez, InterAksyon.com.
America’s Next Top Model favorites Dominique Reighard and Allison Harvard, Cinco’s muses in his Bench scent’s ad campaign, flew in from the United States to model his creations. Dominique Reighard was first seen in America’s Next Top Model, Cycle 10 where she finished fourth overall. She then came back to participate in Cycle 17, America’s Next Top Model: All-Stars where she placed fifth overall. Allison Harvard scored as the runner-up in both the twelfth cycle of America’s Next Top Model and America’s Next Top Model: All-Stars.
Rajo Revolucion!
Next stop after Michael Cinco’s Impalpable launch is Function Hall 5 for the launch of Rajo Laurel’s Rajo Uno and Rajo Dos, two scents that the latter helped create for Bench, and Rajo! Revolution, a collection anchored on limited edition Bench/OJ denim pieces.
This time, guests were treated to more cocktails and a set that looked more like a dance floor rather than a runway. True enough, the show was choreographed like a face-off in music, dance, and fashion, as models were styled according to two modes—the geeky preppies versus the edgy punksters. The dual styling was perhaps done to show off the versatility and ease of the limited edition Bench/OJ + Rajo denim line that has dynamic, contoured cuts, and a sense of craftsmanship.
Geeky versus edgy were the two themes presented by models for Rajo Laurel's limited edition BenchOJ line. Photo by Peter C. Marquez, InterAksyon.com.
Celebrities and models from the Bench family, namely Sam Concepcion, Enchong Dee, Steven Silva, Rocco Nacino, Joseph Marco, Enzo Pineda, Sarah Lahbati, and Regine Angeles danced their way to the delight of the audience. Adding more fun and intensity to the show was the face-off between the UP Pep Squad and the CCP Bobcats.
Sam Concepcion, Enzo Pineda, and Regine Angeles danced their way at the fashion party of Rajo Laurel on the last day of Philippine Fashion Week Holiday 2012. Photo by Peter C. Marquez, InterAksyon.com.
The acrobatic moves of the UP Pep Squad and the CCP Bobcats added more thrill to the already adrenaline-packed fashion show. Photo by Peter C. Marquez.
A pleasant surprise at the fashion show cum dance showdown happened during the finale when an energetic Laurel greeted the audience with percussion players and called out, “Thank you to Bench for making my dream show come true! But the evening is not over yet with Rajo Revolucion! I want you all to dance with me, c’mon, let’s dance!”
Woohoo! Instead of calling it a night, designer Rajo Laurel—who was celebrating his birthday that night—asked the audience to come up onstage to dance with the fashion models and him. Photo by Peter C. Marquez, InterAksyon.com.
In an instant, the audience were cheering once again as some guests, including no less than Bench’s big boss and retail mogul Ben Chan, went onstage to dance with Laurel and the models. A DJ announced that it was also Laurel’s birthday, after which a birthday cake was presented to the fashion designer. Talk about another unconventional fashion show staged both by Laurel and Bench. Laurel got to eat his cake and had a blast, too, while Bench showed it’s still the king of fashion shows and the retail game.
Cheers and applause filled the hall as models Dominique Reighard and Allison Harvard, Bench head Ben Chan, Tessa Prieto Valdes, Tim Yap, and other guests joined fashion designer Rajo Laurel on the stage to dance after the fashion show. Photo by Peter C. Marquez, InterAksyon.com.
Rajo shows his guests how to have fun. Photo by Peter C. Marquez, InterAksyon.com.
