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A woman fulfilled.
Designer
Mich Calica will be opening her second store in
Greenbelt 5 in October.
EVEN at
four months pregnant, designer Michi Calica,
famous for her quirky but ultra-feminine wedding gowns
and cocktail dresses, is still a refreshing sight.
Wearing one of her creations that epitomize the modern
woman with a distinct style—you know, someone who is not
influenced by trends—Michi looks like a flower in full
bloom.
And why
not? Besides being a sought-after fashion designer, a
fulfilled wife and mom, she is also a rising
entrepreneur who will open in October her second
venture, a boutique at the uppity
Greenbelt
5 showcasing her stylish creations. The store, aptly
called Bonne Bouche, will also feature jewelry and shoes
by two other local designers.
“At
Bonne Bouche, pieces will be easy to wear and easy to
love. They will be more playful and less ’sweet.’ The
target market will be the sassy girl about town. Any
woman with a well-rounded lifestyle,’’ Michi said in an
interview during a preview of what’s in store in her
boutique that was held at Greenbelt 3.
Bonne
bouche is a French term for anything delicious,
particularly a small serving of your favorite dish; or a
tidbit of just anything good, according to a friend who
studied and lived in
Paris. For Michi, they simply mean “an elegant treat.’’ At
Bonne Bouche, Michi will be collaborating with Emi
Jorge, who will be retailing the shoes she designed
herself, and Elena Bautista with her jewelry.
That
night, three of her dresses were on view, worn by
mannequins. Two of them, called sack or egg dresses
because of their silhouette, were in dove grey and made
entirely of chiffon. The dresses were embellished with
trims made of Vietnam silk in sapphire blue, deep purple
and mustard yellow, adding vitality to the otherwise
drab color.
“It’s
retro-futuristic,’’ she said, pointing to the dresses.
“There is a lot of ease going on this season.’’ The
clothes would look even better on pregnant women. She
added that she designed the dresses even before she got
pregnant and was surprised to find out these are the
‘in’ silhouettes in runways abroad.
The
third dress, called “the parachute” (again because of
its silhouette), was shown perched high up on an
elevated box, a headless queen looking down on her
minions. Just like the sack dresses, this one was also
in a shade of grey, accented with deep purple and
mustard yellow trims.
Some of
Emi’s shoes and Elena’s jewelry pieces were also on
display that night, well-attended by
Manila’s
well-heeled fashionistas.
A
designer for more than 10 years now, Michi attended the
Art Institute of Seattle where she earned a Carolina
Herrera Scholarship. She has showcased her work in the
Asian Fashion Grand Prix in Japan and Jeunes Createurs
de Mode in Paris. She opened her first store—Michi
Calica Bridal & Home at The Oasis along Aurora Boulevard
in San Juan—in May last year, carrying “very
mainstream’’ bridal gowns and cocktail dresses, as well
as home décor.
EMI
JORGE’S Solea shoes.
“Home
décor is simply a natural progression. They are items
guests buy for brides as wedding gifts. And brides have
to decorate their homes too,’’ she explained.
How will
Bonne Bouche be different from her flagship store?
“The
only difference is the fact that I may not be doing too
many ‘made-to-measure’ pieces. It’s love ’em or leave
’em this time. Of course, this time around, I am
collaborating with two other refined female local
designers for fine jewelry and shoes. It makes the story
more interesting,’’ she pointed out.
And she
is not stopping there. By July, she will open three more
shops in SM Boutique Square in SM Makati, Megamall and
North Edsa. This time, it will be another line, another
concept.
So which
is more difficult, designing clothes or managing a
flourishing business?
“Running
a business is work, designing clothes is pleasure,’’ she
said, matter-of-factly. “Well-crafted designer bags and
inspiring homes are my current inspiration. Of course,
so is a loving environment.’’
Married
to Jose Sotto and a mother of two daughters, Katerina
and Christiana, how does she find time to relax? What’s
her secret?
“I do
everything in moderation. I try not to sweat the small
stuff and I stay cool,’’ she said. “I’m a schedule
maniac. I never waste time. I like to meditate in the
morning and get a good amount of quiet time. I also keep
things uncomplicated and stress-free. I enjoy my
relationships, my time with my husband, children and
family in general.’’
Another
secret to her positive outlook and refreshing aura is
keeping her feet firmly grounded.
“I don’t
put undue pressure on myself. I remind myself to keep it
real. I live in the moment, not the past or the future.
This is how I pay attention to things and people when I
am given that time with them. Say, for those five
minutes with a person, my attention is unequivocally
that person’s only,’’ she said.
Bonne
chance, mademoiselle! |
