NICK APPEARANCES.....LA Fashion Week Spring 2010: Philip Rodriguez, Amato Couture

LA Fashion Week gets International... Vibiana's Cocktail: Good Day LA's Maria Quiban, Nick Verreos and Miss Universe 1997 Brook Lee, Passion Revealed Fashion Show, LA Fashion Week Onto another fabulous event: Last Friday, I was invited to attend "Passion...Revealed! A Fusion of Fashion, Music and Arts", benefiting The Trevor Project, HOPE4Children, FASGI (Filipino American Service Group Inc.) and Gawad Kalinga at the fabulous St. Vibiana's in Downtown LA. There would be three designers of Filipino descent showing their latest collections. My friend, former Miss Universe, Brook Lee, was hosting the evening's festivities, so of course I had to be there to support her--and of course, see some great international fashion! I immediately saw Brook once David and I arrived. She was there with Maria Quiban, the beautiful Fox 11 Good Day LA Weather Anchor. We posed for photos and made our way to our front row seats. Imelda 2010: A gown from Philip Rodriguez First up was Philip Rodriguez' collection. He is known as "The Fashion Czar of Cebu" and has dressed Manila high society, First Ladies of the Philippines, as well royalty. For Spring 2010, his collection, which included men's and womenswear, took inspiration from his native land and the elegant Mantones de Manila (silk shawls). Highlights were the elegant traditional Filipino Men's shirts in pineapple-organza (yep, you read right!) and his intricately embroidered black and off-white gowns.

Alexis Monsanto Muses: Good Day LA's Maria Quiban and Miss Universe 1997 Brook Lee, in Alexis Monsanto designs
Next was designer Alexis "Bong" Monsanto. Brook, in fact was wearing one of his designs, a very pretty navy charmeuse and chiffon gown with crystal detailing. For Spring 2010, Monsanto showed everything from strapless jersey jumpsuits, pretty blouson tops paired with skinny or wide-legged pants, and gowns made to lounge around in a very high-end resort. Monsanto even threw in a couple of hot, fat-free male models in skimpy swimsuits to bring his "resort" theme home (much to the delight of the audience). Dubai Goes to the Venice Ball: Furne One/Amato Haute Couture Spring 2010 The third and final designer was Furne One and his line, Amato Haute Couture which he designs out of his home base in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates where he is well known. He has also designed for Heidi Klum's Germany's Next Top Model Finalists. For tonight's finale, over a dozen models made their way onto the stage in glittering, over-the-top, incredibly-beaded gowns. One more stunning and intricate than the next. The colors ranged from strawberry pink, ice-blue, vanilla yellow to mango orange. Peach Confection: Furne One/Amato Haute Couture Spring 2010 The models' make-up was theatrical and Opera-like. On their heads were white powdered Marie Antoinette-like wigs which held small toys such as bicycles, bowling pins and even a mini helicopter. I kid you not. All of us--at least in the front--had our jaws to the floor! It was as if I had just crashed a fabulous Venice Opera House Costume Ball.
Dangling Couture: Close-Up of Furne One's Amato Haute Couture Spring 2010 gowns When the show was over, you know I had to make my way to the back to see these Haute Couture creations up close. And trust me, they were incredible! Each with it's own built-in corset, yards and yards of ruched tulle, embroidered organza, and Swarovski crystals to make Bob Mackie blush! This was Zuhair Murad and Elie Saab--but on steroids! I can only imagine how those Dubai ladies must LOVE his gowns--and pay a pretty penny for them! If I was a Sheikha or needing a gown for the Crillon Debutante Ball in Paris, I would too! CLICK BELOW for the Amato Haute Couture by Furne One Grand Finale: