For the holidays, Martin Bautista elevates the everyday
The holidays have lined R.A.F. Manila racks this year with a touch of Martin Bautista.
Known for his signature bohemian aesthetic that features drapery and texture, the fashion designer took note of R.A.F.’s ethos and filtered it through his own unconventional viewpoint. The resulting casual collection, which took a year to build, strives to be both grounded and elevated, fashioned to slip seamlessly into the wardrobes of modern-day women living modern-day lives while infusing them with a zing of freshness all at the same time.
Mindfully designing for women who want to wear clothes that feel familiar yet “also a little bit unique and special,” Bautista made sure to create everyday day-to-night apparel that allows them to celebrate their individuality. The designer made sure to put his voice in each piece while also giving enough room for any individual to “come in and bring in her own flavor.”
Meticulous execution
“The idea is very simple but needs to be executed meticulously: How do we insert the pieces into a woman’s existing wardrobe?” Bautista said in a statement. “It feels like a responsibility to enhance the wearer’s ever-changing, fast-paced lifestyle. You want to get there swiftly, making it easy for her, but still somehow familiar.”
He told Lifestyle at the recent launch in Poblacion, Makati: “I want the collection to be very accessible for all girls who have different styles. A lot of girls have their own unique identities and personal styles, so I hope everything can easily fit into their personal wardrobe and they can easily mix with what they have.”
The versatile pieces certainly seem workable but definitely not ordinary, “offering practicality without sacrificing style.”
The jersey dresses in solid hues, for example, cling to the lines of the body appealingly while giving off a bit of an edgy vibe with asymmetric cuts. The draped knits can be worn and styled in a multitude of funky ways, while the shirred tulle and draped satin coordinates allow for fun mixing and matching.
But this holiday collection can certainly work beyond the Christmas season, with the palette kept mostly earthy and neutral, plus the occasional pastel. The styles are restrained enough to give clients plenty to work on when creating their own looks.
In fact, the closest to festive this collab comes would be the soft denim corset-and-pencil skirt combo embellished with cheery “fireworks” beading. The chic pair provides the requisite holiday feels while remaining suitably understated enough to transcend trends and work perfectly well for any other occasion—together or individually.
