Ivar is the architect of style

By Stephanie Maureen F. Asi, Staff Writer

12/02/2008

Ivar Aseron called his latest fashion collection “an exploration,” which was exactly what each piece in the lavish repertoire represented. Nothing was ordinary, each piece mesmerized. Taking off from well-loved trends such as the high waist, the knee-length shift dress, the low neckline and the sexy, bare back, Aseron made the designs his own by incorporating his architectural trademark and flair for experimental shapes. The result was a cohesive representation of form and fluidity in fashion.

Taking inspiration from the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, Spain, the fashion designer took hard and soft elements to create masterpieces in wearability. The Guggenheim is recognized for its avant-garde design as seen through its radical contours. It does away with the typical boxy structure of buildings, showing off curves without abandoning rigid lines. “I love the fusion of rigidity and fluidity of the lines and the architecture, (and) marrying the two elements in my collection,” the designer shares.

Aseron came up with 24 stunning pieces for his collection in just four weeks. His stint in the Fashion Watch Quartet, which took place last Nov. 11 and 13 at the Makati Shangri-La’s Lobby Lounge, proved that there is no room for mediocrity in fashion. He could have shown one or two, and he would have still wowed the afternoon tea crowd. Opening the show with a sexy, white number layered with black lace, he caught and held the attention of the audience, keeping them interested until the sophisticated finale modeled by actress Gretchen Barretto.

Noticeable throughout the collection was Aseron’s fondness for eye-catching contours. He did this in several ways, one of which was the collar. A simple, short white dress became ultra chic with a high collar extending just above the back of the ear for utmost sophistication. A gray dress was given volume by adding a pair of white details that extended upwards to the neck. Very Guggenheim was a white dress with a curvy yet structured collar. The detail started at the bottom of the dress leading the eyes upwards with the curves of the collar and ending just above the left side of the chin. Ingenious!

But perhaps the most captivating contours were those of the dresses that featured more than just a flat silhouette. The audience ogled over the creations that showed off details jutting out of the shoulder and shapes going beyond the back’s silhouette, adding instant interest and panache to a classic piece. A typical gray sleeveless number was given “height” by having the straps extend above the shoulder and layered with black lace just below the elevated straps. The back of the pieces were also given utmost attention by the designer as revealed by the one-of-a-kind design that jutted at the back, forming a sort of V-shape while showing off a bit of skin Aseron admits that doing the jutting-out style was a challenge for him. “No matter how hard the fabric is, it’s still hard to form it the way I want it to,” he explains. But he was able to do it, attributing the unique design to boning.

Aseron played with the eyes by incorporating shapes and designs in a solid color and interspersing it with another. He mixed gray, white and black with a splash of green. He combined silk, Mikado and lace to add texture. He also did this with the only piece that featured pants. A white three-fourth sleeved top was paired with a high waisted, wide leg pants, but to for extra oomph, lace was slipped in just under the white top and above the pants, hinting at skin without revealing too much of it.

The talented designer has done it again. Aseron has made a name for himself for being one of the few designers who can make cutting-edge yet wearable styles. Aseron knows how to stay in the fashion game by giving his loyal patrons and curious onlookers his signature touches while bringing out something new each time.

Aseron proves that nothing is rigid enough that cannot be smoothened and made graceful. It can be likened to a ballerina dancing through the rhythms of a marching band, putting in the needed grace with the stiff beats through the poetry she evokes in her movements. The designer’s exploration unearthed a treasure of style.

Ivar Aseron was the second to the last designer featured in the Fashion Watch Quartet, presented by Nokia and Metrobank Femme Visa in cooperation with Belo Essentials.

Back to top

For comments about this website:Webmaster@tribune.net.ph
The Daily Tribune © 2006