A Norman Noriega creation during Fashion Watch Quartet held at the Lobby Lounge of Shang Rila Makati last May 26, 2011. Photo by Jude Bautista

Written and photographed

By Jude Thaddeus L. Bautista

Leather booties, tie dye, leather pants and skirts, a generous amount of zippers on a cocktail dress, it’s not a rock concert but a fashion show. Let’s not forget frizzy hair from the 80’s. Norman Noriega channeled his inspiration Patty Smyth, one of the better singer songwriters who has made her music relevant through several decades.

A Norman Noriega creation during Fashion Watch Quartet held at the Lobby Lounge of Shang Rila Makati last May 26, 2011. Photo by Jude Bautista

Noriega featured his most recent collection at the Fashion Watch Quartet held at the Lobby Lounge of Shang Rila Makati last May 26, 2011.  Fashion fanatics can get a preview of the best Filipino designer’s works by attending high tea for P810 every Thursday from 3-6pm. This year’s series began last April 14 and will run until June 23.

The Norman Noriega collection during Fashion Watch Quartet held at the Lobby Lounge of Shang Rila Makati last May 26, 2011. Photo by Jude Bautista

Noriega described his experience, “I think it’s really a great honor to be one of the designers chosen for Fashion Watch. I respect all of the designers who participated. I’m very fortunate to be here. With Phil Fashion Week and Fashion Watch, the industry’s really growing. A show like this that features Filipino designers is crucial.” The companies involved have shown their support for the designers: Olay is presenter of Fashion Watch in cooperation with Metro Pacific Investments and BMW. Media partners include:  The Phil Star, Star World, Preview and Stylebible.ph

A Norman Noriega creation during Fashion Watch Quartet held at the Lobby Lounge of Shang Rila Makati last May 26, 2011. Photo by Jude Bautista

Noriega’s sensibility is able to use rock as a jump off point to create and update the edgy look. His clothes are wearable even in our warm tropical weather without losing that ‘attitude.’  For evening wear he said, “The collection is black and white. I’m really not a color person. It’s more on shadow like a black and white photograph. I wanted to show elegance and make it classic yet maintaining that edgy look.”

A Norman Noriega creation during Fashion Watch Quartet held at the Lobby Lounge of Shang Rila Makati last May 26, 2011. Photo by Jude Bautista

It’s the kind of clothes that would be perfect for a night out in Republiq or Opus. The day wear is “tie dye, stretch satin and leatherette.” The material is perfect even at a hot outdoor concert.  Men are bare-chested wearing a vest inside a jacket without a shirt. Or a white Nehru style shirt accented with a wide leather belt. Again, Norega repeats his combination of stylishness with comfort.

The Norman Noriega collection during Fashion Watch Quartet held at the Lobby Lounge of Shang Rila Makati last May 26, 2011. Photo by Jude Bautista

A Norman Noriega creation during Fashion Watch Quartet held at the Lobby Lounge of Shang Rila Makati last May 26, 2011. Photo by Jude Bautista. Do you think her hair is frizzy and wild?

He also confesses that, “I’m always inspired by music. I’m into Patty Smyth, it’s more on rock and roll.” What also showed his homage is the hair, “The whole collection works with that frizzy hair. I wanted something that showed imperfection.”  The hair is very much updated and toned down. In the 80s the hair was big and wild not just frizzy.

Norman Noriega (in black tee shirt holding flowers) during Fashion Watch Quartet held at the Lobby Lounge of Shang Rila Makati last May 26, 2011. Photo by Jude Bautista

Now this is Big and wild hair. She's Patty Smyth in the official The Warrior video back in 1984. Click on Patty’s pic to see the vid.

Patty Smyth became famous as the lead singer of the band Scandal and had their biggest hit, “The Warrior” in 1984. In 1992 she had an even bigger hit this time in a duet with Don Henley, “Sometimes Love Just Aint Enough.” She later became an Oscar, Grammy and Golden Globe nominated vocalist and co-writer for “Look What Love has done” for the film ‘Junior’. The film is a comedy starring recently disgraced ‘Sperminator’ Arnold Schwarzenneger with Danny Devito.

This is the early Patty Smyth also from The Warrior vid. She's still making music and is far more successful as a solo artist.

I could remember when Charles Barkley’s highlight video was to the song of ‘The Warrior’ click on Patty’s pic to see official The Warrior vid.