Flaming scarlet

NEVER play with flames but feel free to put it on your fire awareness list.

No cryptic message here as the words can be taken literally. Why, the start of March inevitably switches on the red alerts of fire prevention. And before anything else, a friendly reminder has to be put in place: Fire is not meant for unnecessary fun but for a good cause.

Along this line of thinking, Live! fashionably partakes in the observance of Fire Prevention Month, that is by featuring some red hot garments—symbolizing the shades of fire—to help spread the note of vigilance and awareness.

Another way of considering this is giving light to the fantasy concept of an imaginative stylist who is K Miranda. At some point, he found himself fascinated by the epic fictional villain Cruella de Vil (The 101 Dalmatians). The idea eventually bloomed into an inspiration. The fiery persona of Scarlet de Vil was then born.

The storyline goes this way: “Scarlet is the real-time heiress of the de Vil family.

Acquiring her great grandmother’s style, elegance, taste and evil mastermind, her scheme is to conquer the fashion world by hurricane (perhaps to trample on anything that is wrongly ablaze?), destroying everything that’s on her way.”

Miranda’s style runs around intense color pallets and textures. It is set in a world where red is the principal color. The play of textures starts from stretch jerseys with minimal embellishments, to fur and fur-like voluminous fabrics to accentuate the looks. A passionate ending would not be without solid metallic accessories and metallic spiked minimal headpieces.

To speak of her beauty is to envision hair and makeup that is European inspired.

Reigning supreme is a messy voluminous bob hair; almost Victorian-like with red eyebrows that mirror her obsession. To make a fierce finish are minimal eye makeup, gold lips and contouring to accentuate her, well, fierce features.

So to get these visions into practical reality, two equally inventive designers helped fire up the show. Danny Booc and Barbie Alvez do that by pitching some flaring outfits.

Alvez’ offering is a Grecian inspired gown oozing with sophistication, which is a lovely consequence of draped jersey fabric. It gleams while boasting of embellishments made of an applique of beads and precious stones, tactfully rested at the empire.

Booc’s bid is a sensual red dress made of multiple chiffon fabrics. Sets of ruffled electric pleated, frosted organza exquisitely characterize the neck and the waist area. To kindle more passionate impression, bottom part was fixed into a high-low skirt.

Now, that is how it is to use fire—not for pointless fun but a worthwhile cause, and a stylish one at that.