LOOK OF STYLE AWARDS 2014 RECREATES Maria Clara

In the novel Noli me Tangere, Jose Rizal described María Clara as the most beautiful and widely celebrated lady in the town of San Diego. She was the epitome of virtue, “demure and self-effacing” and endowed with beauty, grace and charm, and promoted by Rizal as the “ideal image”of a Filipino woman who deserves to be placed on the “pedestal of male honour.”

Its been more than a hundred years,  yet a lot still regard Maria Clara as the true standard of a real Filipino woman.

But how would she look,  and more importantly what should she be wearing in this modern era? 

This was the challenged posed to the finalists of the 2014 LOOK of Style Awards.  Each finalist in the apparel and accessories categories were tasked to create pieces inspired by “Maria Clara.”

Wearable clothes, bags, shoes and jewelry, which utilize local and sustainable materials and techniques and reflect the new generation’s take on the Philippines’ national attire, were presented before a panel of designers, British Council officers, and LOOK Magazine editors during a prejudging.

A runway show and awarding of winners is being held tonight Nov. 12 at Buddha-Bar Makati.

Finalists for the apparel category are Xioti Chiu, Bengt Enrique, Jinggo Inoncillo, Exur Lopena, Daryl Maat, Viña Romero, RJ Santos, Ron Santos, Eugene Tidalgo and Mike Yapching.

Accessories category finalists are Meme Dakay, Shiela Damalerio, Louie dela Cruz, Christopher Gomez, Nere Ku and Em Mariano.

As in previous LOOK of Style Awards, scholarships in short courses in the UK will be awarded the winners in the apparel and accessories categories.

A chance to showcase one’s creations in a London show also awaits this year’s big winners.

One of the finalists in the accessories category will also be awarded a scholarship by Amina Aranaz-Alunan in the School of Fashion and the Arts (SoFA).

The LOOK of Style Awards 2014 is supported by Hana Shampoo, Champion Infinity, SM Accessories and London College of Contemporary Arts, with Fashion is Great, Uber, Max Factor, Z Salon, Coca-Cola and Victoria Visual.

For more information on the 2014 LOOK of Style Awards, visit www.facebook.com/lookmagazineph and www.facebook.com/BritishCouncilPhilippines, and follow @lookmagazineph on Instagram and Twitter. Follow LOOK of Style Awards on Instagram using the hashtag #LOSA2014.