Just before I left Las Vegas, to join my family, on our annual sojourn to Waikiki, I attended the opening of Las Vegas’ first fashion atelier; that of designer David Tupaz. David’s is a great talent, matched only by his joie de vivre and wonderful eye.

A three-part event, the evening began with a VIP reception, where I met-up with Elaine Newton, Susie Molasky, and Vivi Marshall; along with longtime face of Cox Communications, Steve Schorr; and the designer, himself.

Next was the ribbon-cutting and a speech by the Mayor, wherein the Honorable Carolyn Goodman read a lovely announcement, proclaiming that day to be David Tupaz Day, and hooray! Finally, behind the atelier, past a lovely metallic sculpture, in the space occupied by V Asian TV, Inc.’s television studio, the guests were regaled with Tupaz’s SS14 collection.

David’s takes a very strong view of fashion, stating that “just like art and music… is the extension of our personalities.” A firm believer in elegance, Tupaz infuses his designs with “…romantic feminism, with a tailored twist.”

A proud Filipino designer (espousing that outrageous non-sequitur of Karen Walker’s, wherein the Will & Grace socialite declared “I love Filipinos; they’re Asian, but not cocky about it.”), Tupaz’s designs are as much influenced by the design-houses of Asia as those of Europe (think Oscar de la Renta during his tenure at Pierre Balmain, with hints of Yohji Yamamoto and Romeo Gigli). Ranging from wrapped blouses and slacks, to voluminous gowns; Tupaz’s designs are conceived with real women in mind, making them very wearable.

Trained in New York, Tupaz relocated to Los Angeles (and opened a second atelier in Las Vegas), because “New York might be the center of fashion, but Hollywood is the window.”

Now, with showrooms in Los Angeles and Las Vegas, Tupaz is ideally situated to accommodate those red-carpet regulars among the Hollywood elite; and has dressed such lovely ladies as Julia Roberts, Kate Hudson, Annette Benning, Goldie Hawn, Christine Baranski, Lucy Liu, Diane von Furstenberg, Bai Ling, Kristen Chenoweth, Sofia Milos, the late Etta James, Bo Derek, Mitzi Kapture, and Patti Austin. Furthermore, he has created exquisite suiting for gents, including William Shatner, Bruce Jenner, Martin Sheen, Scott Hamilton, and Alan Thicke.

My favorite piece of the evening, was the dress Tupaz had made for Elaine Newton – a meticulously pleated dress with a plunging décolletage, in dove gray that gave me “well-executed origami realness” and was utterly steeped in eleganza!

David Tupaz Couture
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Get into it!