A culmination of epic proportions, the closing shows of Bench Fashion Week were a masterful orchestration of the summertime dress code in a domination of eye-popping prints, saturated sunshine shades and finally, a display of distilled detailing.
1. THE EASE OF SUMMER MINIMALISM at ASSEMBLY
Housing brands such as Paul Smith, Maison Mihara Yasuhiro, P.L.C. New York, Minki London, Kindersalmon and most recently, Emilio Pucci, Assembly’s ambitious venture of curating cult-favorite for the Filipino market hits an all-time high with its spring/summer ’18 offerings. Boasting of a vivid minimalism, it was a smattering of layered breezy silhouettes that glided effortlessly on the runway of Bench Fashion Week. Diligently decoding the summer’s prescribed dress code, Assembly drew attention with its mix of kimono-like pairings, print-on-print combinations and a swathing of flowy separates.
2. SUN DOWN DANCE PARTY DRESS CODE at BENCH
Whether it’s a low-key and chill listening session by the seaside (set to nature’s arrangement of crashing waves, of course) or a more energetic dance session at the nearby surf bar, Bench has got you covered with an assemblage of summer staples for your inevitable escape to paradise. Flirty florals adorn classic must-haves such as off-shoulder tops, dresses, robes and light-as-air button-downs, while shocks of color are a pleasant surprise to otherwise straightforward casual essentials. And in true Bench fashion, the brightest young stars such as Megan Young, Gabbi Garcia and Julianna Gomez decorated the industrial space as they sported their signature summer styles.
3. A DISSECTION OF MODERN MENSWEAR by JOEY SAMSON
Set to the haunting rendition of Frank Ocean’s Moonriver, Joey Samson closes Bench Fashion Week with jaws dropping to floor at each turn of the corner. A genius through and through, Joey Samson successfully dissects menswear (yet again) with much aplomb, this time playing with oversized cuffs and overextended sleeves, spliced tailoring, and a contrast of masculine and feminine cuts. Rendered in mostly muted neutrals, a dash of color elicited an audible gasp as every smartphone and camera in the room went click, click, click. A beautiful display of mind-blowing restraint, precise technique and unparalleled creativity, Joey Samson is a true master of his craft and an unmatched stronghold of local fashion.
Photos by Kieran Punay of Studio 100