Clint Holton P. Potestas

FOR someone who looks forward to the future, memories of the past don’t wane; not a single evolution is forgotten. But in the meantime, sit properly, please—he’s raising the hemline a little higher.

From its subtle death in the new millennium, power dressing of the 90s is resurfacing with a vengeance: edgier and shorter.

Call it too much love for the old, but Harley Ruedas, who is considered as one of Cebu’s fashion emperors, makes a drastic leap on some of our trusted pieces.

“I’m inspired by the power dressing of the late 80s and early 90s. What I’m presenting now is an inspiration of that era, with a twist—something not too structured,” Harley says.

The challenge is in how he contrasts embellishments on figure-hugging tops without going over-the-top, so to say. It’s a style discipline he has mastered over the years.

And every staple he executes can mostly become the trend of the future. It’s a skill (the art of trend-setting) he was born with.

When everything’s bright and beautiful, black and white are standouts. In this recent collection, he desires to create a crisp line in the classic tandem that can be combined with couture apparel.

“Miniskirts will make a comeback,” he shares his fashion forecast. “Colors will be dominated by nudes and neutral tones.”

Unusual construction may not be a surprising novelty for him, but when he sewed stones on diagonal linen, jersey, and stretched tulle, his designs paved way to the “new power dressing of the century.”

Silver brooches and scorpion-shaped ear pieces become the key detail of the series.

“I always believe in wearability and comfort as primary factors to what a good design should be. Ever since (I started in the business), I have been known for my wearable and practical lines that go with global trends.”

Some glimpses of the future: no baggy silhouettes and “roomy” constructions.

Keep it above the knee. And with the rise of hemlines, Melanie Marquez will surely love her long legs all the more. She went global, by the way.

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(November 28, 2008 issue)
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