Made-to-order label Septième Rebelle presented a collection that embodied island party dressing at different times of the day. Although staged in a runway, Robbie Santos’ collection is noteworthy for its contrasting silhouettes and meticulous judicious fabric selection that give off an escape-from-the-city look.
The Holiday 2025 collection, “Un Jour Á La Fois”, directly translates to one day at a time. Designer Robbie Santos believes that when one dreams big, the results do not happen in an instant. He explains, “I always put in mind the notion of ‘one day at a time.’ Little by little, when you work your way towards achieving a goal, it can happen, and it will happen.”
While perceived as another travel collection due to the elaborate set design of the show, Santos shared that it is much, much more than that. “I was initially inspired by the French colonial house of Oscar dela Renta in the Dominican Republic – how it looked, how he entertained, and how it became a home away from home.”
“Un Jour Á La Fois” collection
Island party dressing also became his concept. A number of looks had sleeveless blouses to address the potentially hot and humid weather. Tailored looks in cotton and light wool were constructed to have no inner shirts, creating a sexy and practical feel at the same time. His signature peekaboo detail with skin reveal is, as expected, present in the collection. From the initial calico fittings, fabric selection, added details, to the final touches, the process was tedious and utterly time-consuming. But, as he said, “We really took it one day at a time.”
“Un Jour Á La Fois” collection
To complete the collection, he envisioned his dream destination, the Carribean. Santos has never been there so he let his imagination run wild on how it is to have fun in that part of the world. The concept of buntings were greatly seen in the leaf-shaped strands that adorned some of the pieces. He took the cue from Filipino fiestas, which he placed on classic cuts. It became a hybrid of Filipino and Caribbean feels that helped him complete the collection.
Santos relates this collection to his clients who like to travel, appreciate the good life and enjoy their hard-earned money, offering a freedom to discover and experiment on style. Definitely, he wants his wearer to simply have fun! At first glance, the clothes may look classic and conventional, but the details say otherwise. An appliqué here and there, some beadwork here and there, some trims here and there – are all part and parcel of being unique, of being different, of not taking life too seriously.
