Art/Style/Travel DiariesStyle

Catch Criselda Retrospective at Rustan’s

Exhibit and auction honor the designer whose brand has become one of the strongest among women

Rustan's chairperson Zenaida 'Nedy' Tantoco, US Ambassador MaryKay Carlson, and John Fernandez at the exhibit opening

Criselda Lontok auction pieces

Rustan’s is honoring Criselda Lontok—the woman, the brand, the design genius, the steadfast partner to countless women who wanted to dress chic and comfortable—in a Criselda Retrospective exhibit running this week at Rustan’s Makati.

“Criselda’s memory will always be part of Rustan’s,” said Zenaida “Nedy” Tantoco, the chairperson and CEO of Rustan’s in a video interview with TheDiarist.ph. at Rustan’s Gallerie, 2nd floor, Rustan’s Makati.

“Criselda was a successful designer for 40 years,” she said. A Criselda design, Tantoco stressed, has been “forgiving” in that one needed not have the figure of a “Miss Universe” to fit in it. “It’s also very timeless.”

Inno Sotto, US Ambassador MaryKay Carlson, Zenaida R. Tantoco, and Maritess Tantoco-Enriquez

For the past four decades, Criselda is one of the best-selling brands at Rustan’s. This famous model and socialite of the ‘50s (she wore a Ramon Valera wedding gown) turned to designing clothes for women for Rustan’s because she had elegant taste that many women emulated, a good eye for fashion design, and she had such enviable work ethic. Almost every day, she could be seen in her boutique at Rustan’s, attending to clients—many of them her friends or acquaintances—giving them advice on how to dress, and even picking out the best dresses for them, whether casual or dressed-up. She was that devoted and committed to dressing women elegantly, until her passing away in 2021.

John Fernandez

Her clientele cuts across demographic, from the career-driven to the women of leisure. Criselda knew what suited them best, from the mature women to the young trendsetters.

In time, the Criselda design became iconic: happy vibrant colors that suit the Filipina complexion, the distinctive blooms that make the wearer stand out, the elegant and understated silhouettes of dresses and coordinates. The iconic Criselda design is feminine, without being frou-frou, comfortable without being frumpy. Her passion for her craft drove her to handpick fabrics herself and to pay attention to small yet significant detailing.

Kayla Laygo and Hannah Ruth Sison

Frannie Jacinto, Tessa Prieto, Bettina Osmena, and Peching Zulueta

Maritess Pineda, Zenaida R. Tantoco, and Maritess Tantoco-Enriquez

Upon her passing, Criselda left a trove of unworn personal outfits and haute couture masterpieces. In tribute to the designer who clothed Manila’s elite, Rustan’s management and Criselda’s children conceived the Criselda Retrospective, with major sponsors HSBC and Givenchy.

The Retrospective celebrates her enduring legacy, and her enriching journey in Philippine fashion.

The Criselda Retrospective consists of the ongoing curated exhibit which runs for a week. At the end of the week-long exhibit is the Criselda Retrospective Auction to be hosted by León Gallery on the 3rd floor of Rustan’s Makati, where some of Criselda’s most iconic creations will go on the block. Its proceeds will go to Criselda’s beloved charity, Bantay Bata 163, fashion serving a noble cause.

Flowers at Rustan’s Criselda: A Journey Through Flower Fields launch event

The collection features elegant ballgowns with the classic rose motif in lilac and black, three-piece ensembles with embossed oriental hummingbirds, or the French fleur-de-lis, and tent dresses with striking black polka dots on vibrant torrero red shantung.

Use the expert assistance of your favorite Personal Shopper or dial our Personal Shopper On-Call hotline 0917-111-1952 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Join the Rustan’s LIVE Viber Community http://rstns.shop/RustansViber

Follow RustansPH on Instagram and Facebook, and visit their website on www.Rustans.com.


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