the more than fabulous mfive (who's not a five at all but a perfect ten)!

carrie bradshaw will probably chastise me for saying this. but her favourite word "fabulous" suddenly seemed inadequate to describe the magic that is michael cinco (whom i fondly call mfive) on the catwalk or runway or whatever you call it. i am, of course, referring to both the dresses and most especially the designer.

now, don't get carried away. i am not a fashion expert. but i have an eye for beauty. i am an avid reader of vogue (if it helps increase my credibility) and vanity fair. and of course, i can very well tell a tulle from lace.  
i know when something is divine and when it's trash. when it's classy, truly a league of its own, and when it's just a trying hard copycat. a poor imitation of the original.

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renowned international fashion artist (designer seems also too inadequate to describe him) mfive wowed manille again last night when he unveiled his latest creations to a stunned, enthralled, awed crowd that consisted of the pillars of the international and philippine fashion industry such as trailblazers christian espiritu and cesar gaupo, the socialites (both the hated and the beloved), the wannabes, and of course, the gate crashers, some of whom were annoyingly sashaying near the runway as if their faces and fashion statements were a cause for celebration when the opposite was true. 

i mean, dark glasses at night? unless you are the veneered mfive, wearing dark glasses at night is a big no no. you are there to watch, savour and even scrutinize the dreamy clothes on the stage, so why wear those horrendous shades when they will just obscure your view?! in my book, fashion is all about wearing what's appropriate at the right occasion, at the right time. call me old fashioned, but seeking attention is  a big turn off. if you are truly fabulous, people will notice you even if you are quietly sitting at a corner and weaving your own fantasy.

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i quietly applauded those who really made an effort to look simple yet elegant. those who refused to call attention to themselves, yet they still tickled your interest. luckily, they outnumbered those trying hard wannabes, whom the queen of fashion journalism charlize dismissed as mere "show offs!" and were not there to actually buy the clothes.

but dahlin, the impalpable mfive's creations are too expensive for the philippine market. that's why he is out there in the wealthy dubai (and trying to expand in los angeles, russia and china), much appreciated and cherished in the international jetset scene because the truly wealthy sheiks, barons and princesses can truly afford his art without batting an eyelash or borrowing money from the bank. they won't even bother asking for the price tag. nor haggle for a discount. worse, for an ex-deal. haha.

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anyway, enough of the bitchiness. 

i was an mfive virgin. i have never seen any of his shows. so i didn't know what to expect. the photos, videos, millions of praise releases, features and media clippings really don't do justice to mfive's dresses. they are simply divine. you have to see them, touch them, smell them to better appreciate them. 

watching two rows away from the runway, i felt i was as close to divinity as any charismatic church leader. his well edited, well conceptualized show (from the lights down to the music) is a masterpiece in theatrics, an appropriate background to the marvelous creations being paraded on the stage. one by one. like magic.

the models looked like goddesses summoned to descend from mount olympus to lend glamour, to inspire, to enchant. in manille, recently described by a bestselling author as "the gates of hell." 

enough said. the webster dictionary will probably run out of adjectives (opulent, rich, vibrant, luminous,  grande) to describe the show, the clothes and the designer.

here are some photos that i managed to grab from mfive's facebook account. no copyright infringements intended, by the way. so please don't sue this suzy menkes wannabe.

(by the way, just so you know, i love all of the clothes shown that night. you can almost see mfive and his hard working team belaboured on every detail, from conceptualizing, sketching, to stitching every bead, sequins, swarovksy, tiny flowers into those gowns. despite their size and volume, they don't look heavy at all. you can see it from the way the models breezed through on the runway: poised, prim and elegant. graceful as a swan on the lake. but my favourites are the black dresses that are probably inspired by the black swan or by the glamourous outfits of charlize theron in the recent reimagining of the snow white on the big screen. as i told charlize, the fashion journalist, not the actress, i wish i could get married on those gowns! but then my meager salary as a reporter won't even be able to afford even just the sketch pads where those gowns first saw the light of the universe.)

(acclaimed international mannequin ria bolivar captivated and silenced the crowd with her magical moves at the catwalk in one of mfive's stunning creations.)

(this is my ultimate favourite. when the model stopped and posed right infront of our seats, i wanted to go up the stage and grab the dress and the tiara from her.) 

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the show was brief (less than half an hour), but like a beautiful romance, it was sweet. the audience obviously craved for more. most of us remained on our seats even after mfive in his signature dark glasses and shy stride took the runway and humbly acknowledged the thunderous applause and the endless oohs and aahs from the audience.

the smx convention hall three was standing room only. a rare feat. i had been to a number of fashion shows in my past life as a lifestyle journalist, but i had never seen an sro crowd before. correct me if i am wrong, ms. charlize; you are the expert.

we hungered for more, lingered a bit more, even if michael, the magician, the sorceress, the rumpelstiltskin of the iphonefive generation bade us farewell and faded and drowned into the blinding glow of the dancing lights. as though he had entered the gates of heaven. 

it's adieu for now.

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in a totally unrelated development, i just can't help but feel sad that despite the humungous talent that filipino designers have, the country remained off the radar in the international scene as far as fashion is concerned. that's why talents like mfive have to get out of the country to make it, to find an audience, to make a little money for their arts.

the philippines, sadly, remained mired in dirty politics, corrupt politicians and their ilks, backward industries and technologies, cheap showbiz gimmickry, murky scandals and petty intrigues that we have forgotten that we have what it takes to be a world class country and compete with the bests in the global arena.

but then that's just me, a disgraced former beauty queen who can't find a decent job with respectable pay at home after toiling for years in the global stage. hahahahahaha!