Cover Filipino designer John Herrera poses with his finale pieces at his Paris Fashion Week debut (Photo: Paris City Fashion Week)
Filipino designer John Herrera poses with his finale pieces at his Paris Fashion Week debut (Photo: Paris City Fashion Week)
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London-based Filipino designer John Herrera makes his first foray into the runways of Paris Fashion Week
Paris Fashion Week has long been regarded as a coveted stage for both emerging and established designers. Biannually, the best of the fashion community vie for the spotlight during one of the busiest weeks on the fashion calendar. This honour was recently bestowed upon John Herrera, who made his debut on this prestigious platform, unveiling his haute couture collection entitled ‘Femme a la Mode.’
The 10-piece collection pays tribute to “fashionable women throughout history,” and serves as an ode to their influence on style and culture. According to the London-based Filipino designer, he designed each look “without being constrained by a specific creative direction.” The results speak for themselves, as the gowns showcased a variety of silhouettes and textiles that appear to honour different eras of fashion.
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Above The finale look from John Herrera’s ‘Femme a la Mode’ collection featuring yards of piña seda (Photo: Paris City Fashion Week)
Above A look from John Herrera’s ‘Femme a la Mode’ collection (Photo: Paris City Fashion Week)
The finale look from John Herrera’s ‘Femme a la Mode’ collection featuring yards of piña seda (Photo: Paris City Fashion Week)
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From the photos alone, one could point out the lushness of the pieces—elegant and romantic but imbued with a hint of edge. The collection features an opulent selection of fabrics, from silk duchess satin and silk-cotton velvets to intricately adorned materials embedded with glass bugles and Swarovski crystals. Other stunning creations include a loose off-white blouse with smocked sleeves and a black and chartreuse gown embellished with a large rosette.
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Above A look from John Herrera’s ‘Femme a la Mode’ collection (Photo: Paris City Fashion Week)
Above A look from John Herrera’s ‘Femme a la Mode’ collection (Photo: Paris City Fashion Week)
A look from John Herrera’s ‘Femme a la Mode’ collection (Photo: Paris City Fashion Week)
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A particular highlight of the show was the bridal gown that served as Herrera’s finale piece. In a true celebration of heritage, the piece featured yards of piña seda crafted into a billowing veil. The use of this native fabric added both a touch of cultural pride to the collection and showcased Southeast Asia’s rich textile traditions on one of the world’s most prestigious fashion platforms.
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About
Julianna has been interested in leading a literary life since she first read Frances Hodgson Burnett's A Little Princess at eight. Before working with Tatler, she was an archive intern at The Center for Fiction in Brooklyn, New York. She is a textbook Pisces who devotes most of her spare time to her crochet projects, watching classic films, and going through her never-ending pile of unread books. She studied creative writing, global literature and art history at Sarah Lawrence College, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 2022. Toni Morrison, Nora Ephron, Clarice Lispector and Jia Tolentino are among her all-time favourite writers.
Work
Julianna writes about fashion, beauty, sustainability, and the arts. She is always keen on conducting interviews with talented women who are changing the game in their respective fields.
For event invites and story leads, hit her up at julianna.cabili@tatlerasia.com
