Already a constant in the local fashion landscape, Chris Diaz&rsquo;s decadent new collection is a provocative blend of the masculine and the feminine.

PHOTOGRAPHY AND CREATIVE DIRECTION Anton Patdu
STYLING AND PRODUCTION DESIGN Chris Diaz
Chris Diaz is all about paradoxes. He&rsquo;s known for creating menswear with a touch of flamboyance: think classic-cut suits in candy colors and gentlemanly tailored separates dripping with florals and feathers. His newest collection, titled Mon Beau Jako, is delightfully no different. &ldquo;Hedonistic, debonaire, and coquettish, it&rsquo;s inspired by Jacques de Bascher, who was known fondly as Jako by his lover, the late Karl Lagerfeld,&rdquo; the designer shares. &ldquo;In the 60s and 70s, Jako was a social peacock whose affections were also sought after by the likes of Yves Saint Laurent.&rdquo;
Taking cues from de Bascher&rsquo;s eccentric, champagne-fueled wardrobe&mdash;his outlandish party hats, signature ties, and the sartorial inspiration he took from naval stints in tropical paradises like Papeete and Martinique&mdash;Diaz&rsquo;s latest offering sees handsome tailoring paired with bows, fringe, and exotic flora, with a color palette that swings from sweet to sensual.

Let&rsquo;s talk about your latest collection. What is its title? What were your inspirations for it?
For Mon Beau Jako,I picked up elements from Jacques de Bascher&rsquo;s French dandy style and legacy and spruced them up for today&rsquo;s wearer. Crisp fabrics like gazar, silk mikado, and duchesse satin were combined with the fluidity of chiffons, charmeuse, crepe, and fine mesh to create harmony from opposing textile textures and weights. The result is an assortment of statement separates that embody the modern man and woman, who lean towards classic shapes enhanced by sultry uniqueness.
Could you tell us a little bit about your career background?
I&rsquo;m an interior design graduate who slowly carved a path in fashion. After high school, I found myself working for a lace and couture fabric exporter, which cemented my interest in doing fashion. I joined a few competitions as a stepping stone; the highlight was winning an award at the 2006 Mercedes-Benz Malaysia International Fashion Awards.
What piqued your fascination with the blend of masculine silhouettes and feminine details you&rsquo;ve used in this collection? What made you decide to use them?
Sometime around 2013, I did two menswear looks as fillers in a collection and got a good response. Now, years later, half of my collections are comprised of menswear. Surprisingly, there was a demand! My signature menswear looks fuse classic silhouettes with feminine touches. The best part is that women are wearing my menswear pieces; it&rsquo;s a sign that I must be doing something right.
How has your design perspective shifted/remained since your last release? Oh, it has definitely shifted. My pieces then were romantic and ethereal, with lots of lace for the women. Now, with menswear becoming the bigger slice [of my business], anyone can enjoy my offerings. It&rsquo;s not drastic shift, but it&rsquo;s definitely given fresh breath to my work.

Could you walk us through your creative process?
I normally already have design ideas stored in my head. I&rsquo;m sort of like a fruit tree: I pluck out what I feel like using, then blend that with other bits of inspiration. Then I move on to rough croquis, color and fabric selection, flat sketches and, finally, production. Mood counts for a lot in my design process, too.
What are your long-term influences? What are the things that have inspired you for years? I had a few design heroes back in the day, but when you&rsquo;ve established your look, you&rsquo;ll be much more inspired by your actual patrons and clients. You&rsquo;ll love coming up with something fresh for them, while maintaining your trademarks and keeping up with the times.
What are your current influences? What&rsquo;s inspiring you right now?
My business partners suggested that I take my strong detail executions from the past&mdash;fringes, bows, metallics&mdash;and blend those with my new offerings like the handmade silk flowers. The result is a romantic, ethereal, boy-meets-girl aesthetic.
Your design philosophy in one sentence?
Garments are like picture frames&mdash;they should always highlight the subject, making it whole &amp; complete.

HAIR AND MAKEUP Boggy Diaz, Mark Brucales, Arvee Yadao
PRODUCTION ASSISTANTS Rex Cortes and Celine Castilla&nbsp;
VIDEOGRAPHER Dan Fugrad and Andrea Batan
MODELS Luciano Spoltore, Christian Bootle, Pablo Chavez Trish Pertes, Thayla Zuanazzi, Aleksy Baltaza, Earisto Pereyra, Ailin Khait all at MONARQ AGENCY

Garçons et Filles: Chris Diaz

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