The Egyptian affair

Thursday, February 9, 2012

FIRST, the frock. “I’ve used several lace fabrics before, but this time, the patterns are Egyptian instead of the usual floral,” explains Albert Arriba on the second floor of his atelier that has now become the home to his slinky—some puffy, like cotton candies—floor-sweeping dresses.

The ground floor is either occupied with society ladies and gentlemen availing themselves of salon services or with bursting laughter from close friends visiting on hot afternoons (the advantage of situating the atelier on Gen. Maxilom Ave., Cebu City).

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“So perhaps, I thought, it’s remaking romantic designs with exotic materials or whatever is new to my eyes,” he goes on.

He has so fallen in love with lace that he created a twin version of the same material. While they vary in color, both have similar fabric treatment: the flute.

It is folded by doubling the fabric back upon itself and securing it in place, gathering a wide piece to a narrower circumference. In Arriba’s version, the flute is attached to the bustier to create a jagged yet pretty neckline.

“Do you notice that the cut is square?” he asks, pointing to the flare of the gown.

“It’s squarely cut to add a dramatic drape from the knee to the bottom.”

Another manifestation of his Egyptian devotion is the cutout on the hemline.

He traces the prints with scissors to draw attention to the three-dimensional effect of the concept.

If you’ve been following his line on the runway, you can take it from here that the flashy beads can take a break.

Appliqués govern the collection for one reason: elegance. Check out the silver lace in serpentine silhouette that seems to be an embroidered thread formed into floral figures, wrapped on the body, then flared with layered tulle on the bottom. Patches of the same cloth are sewn together on the turtle neckline.

Second, the hair.

Inspired by the sphinx’s feminine face, he styled the hair by equally dividing it into two, braiding the first layer, and then adding volume on the nape area.

“It’s like electrocuting the hair,” he jokes, remarking on the tiny curls—not too tight that they can’t be considered the “telephone wire.”

Lastly, the destination.

“I adore glamour and romance combined together, so on Valentine’s Day, you wear something that celebrates your beauty—to a date, to a prom night,” Arriba says.

“Or would you want to wear the Egyptian frock to a swimming party?”