Ms Immediato,

It's me, Alan Del Rosario. Wow.

I read your thoughts about my spring show. Again, wow! My instincts to react and respond accordingly bubbled to the surface. But then I sat back and thought, "So she didn't get my clothes - everyone is entitled to their own opinion". It's best to rise above the criticism, the verbal assaults, the savage commentary veiled thinly in sitcom-style barbs and bad tabloid hyperbole. I felt the classy thing would be to rise above it and thank GOD we live in a democracy where people can voice their opinions openly and without fear of retaliation. Then I thought : SCREW THAT -

I am in an indusrty where ones work is subjective - if we all had the same likes and dislikes we wouldn't need a choice of designers. But it struck me how your "review" went from critiquing my clothes to a level far more personal. I thought "Wow! What kind of deeply-rooted childhood trauma has made this woman so vicious, vindictive and mean-spirited!?!" I immediately thought of Sally Fields' Emmy-winning performance in Sybil. It made me want to chant for your happiness! But again, I thought, aw, SCREW THAT -

I mean, if you don't like my clothes and don't get my vision, I get it, to each his own. But to imply the audience had to be drunk to be liking my designs is not the kind of journalism I'd expect from a "fashion style council". One usually has to look to the pages of the National Enquirer for that kind of writing!

You claimed the "whole show confused you". Hmmm .... well, not that you care but let me shed a little light to your ... haze. It was a tongue-in-cheek send-up about "good girls and the bad boys they fall for"; the rebels, the "fast and the furious", the delinquents, the "player's" and even the gay men, who often torment women with their buff bodies, groomed good looks and ability to communicate on deeply emotional levels; but I digress. The men were used to segue into the next 'look' of the girls. The fact that these guys "creeped you out" and the vaguely traumatic references you made surrounding your prom made me think that perhaps your high school experience was a bit .... lonely? Maybe a little ... confusing? I couldn't help but picture you there in your Zum Zum moire taffteta dress, babys breath stuck in your hair cradling a cup of punch you'd spiked yourself when your biology teacher had looked away. I can see you watching those "creepy" studly boys pass by on their way to someone ... else. And for a moment I felt bad for you. But then I thought, SCREW TH- well, you know what I thought -

I chuckled a little at references to my sexual orientation and was fairly appauled by your strangely inappropriate assumption that quinseanera dresses are inherently (therefore culturally) tacky. Not sure THAT sat too well with your Mexica-American amigas. It just kinda' made you look ... well, like a poor man's Melissa Rivers. You know, trying to be sardonic but unable to understand exactly what that means...

As for that "Borderline" thing, that was music they played prior to the show and not on my soundtrack at all (here's the place where I would insert the amount of requests I've received for a copy of my soundtrack, but I realize that wouldn't mean anything to you. How are those Crystal Gayle cd's workin' for ya? I hear John Tesh has a fab new one coming out. If you wait outside Virgin Mega Record Store you'll probably be first in line for the autographed copy!)

So, if this is the way that you write reviews, Ms Immediato, it does not surprise me that you can't think of any place to wear my clothes as it's hard to visualize you actually being INVITED anywhere. Lastly, one expects more from someone trying to pass herself off as some sort of "fashion critic". if it is not a "show" you want, perhaps we can all simply hand you a line sheet or a catalog? You can point to things and go: "oooh .... aahhh"! I'm sure Galliano would be THRILLED to have you first row, center, at HIS show - as his white elephants and ballerinas go by ... I can almost SEE the look of "confusion" tightening your face ...

So that's it. I welcome your criticsim, Ms Immediato - SERIOUSLY. I hope I was able to at least shed some light for you on what I am doing as a designer and why a filled-to-capacity crowd at Smashbox Studios didn't have to be soused to get a kick outta' my stuff. Oh, and about the whole "prom/trauma"? When these memories start to come up for you just go to your "happy place". You know, someplace that means something important to you ... like maybe somewhere .... beige.

My Best,
Alan

Wow. Alan. I don't really think you do welcome criticsm. I re-read my post to see what could have inspired such a rant. I didn't see anything "vicious"," vindictive" or" mean-spirited." How is the fact that I felt I had seen these dresses before when I was shopping for my sweet sixteen vicious? is it vindictive? It was my humble opinion that I felt I had seen them before. I actually liked some of your dresses.

I even complimented you, though you failed to see it: "I did like his lacey tops paired with colorful poofy skirts. And my jury is still out on the tuxedo details on some of the gowns." (I like them)

I did say the white eyelet gowns looked like Quinceanera dresses designed by Bobby Trendy. The insult there, Dear Alan, was that Bobby Trendy is tacky (I expect a tirade from him soon too). Not that "quinseanera (sic) dresses are inherently (therefore culturally) tacky."

And I did say the crowd was drunk. I believe they were. The chick next to me was falling on me and had to be asked to get out of the photographers way. I didn't say they had to be drunk to like the clothes. Just that they liked the clothes and they were drunk. You know not a direct correlation, just something to take into account. It was meant to be a joke.

Really, you've interpreted my little "review" very hashly. Maybe that stems from your own insecurities?

But you made several assumptions about me. Let me clear them up for you.

-You assumed I wasn't a Latina, I am.

-That I like Jon Tess. I've never even heard of him. (I do like Crystal Gayle, sort of, she's Loretta Lynn's sister).

-That I like beige. Funny, I've been quoted as saying "beige=death" and in the very snippet you're responding to, I said, "I did like his lacey tops paired with COLORFUL poofy skirts." But I guess you read what you wanted to read.

-You assumed, though NO WHERE in the story did I even hint at having a bad time at prom that I had some Carrie-like experience. I did not. I was captain of the cheerleading squad, Jr. Miss at our local beauty pageant, Honor Society member, Student Council president (voted by a landslide), and had a steady boyfriend all throughout high school. I had a blast at all my proms. I even wore a dress that looked like yours!

Point well-taken, Ms Immediato - Secretly, I had a strong suspicion that you had been all those things and more, in High school. And yes, I admit that I DID overlook some of the compliments that you paid me, but they were, you must admit, hard to spot between the lines of beautifully-written sarcasm and innuendo.

You have a powerful opportunity to write in your column, all your thoughts on any particular subject. I responded - truth to tell, I wasn't sure my response would end up in plain view - kudos to you for that.

Truth is? I have the craziest feeling I would like you very much, should we ever have the opportunity to meet in person. Even when your writing stung a bit, some of it did make me laugh.

Lastly, I'll bet you looked very beautiul in my dress at your prom :)
Alan

hi alan.

i was browsing online looking for a dress that i could wear in my graduation. i saw your designs and im really surprised to know that you're a Filipino.
hope you could visit the Philippines and show your collections.

Goodluck in your career.

Alan,
I fear you will never see this comment! So much time has passed! But I do hope we get to meet in person some day. I saw you on the Janice Dickenson Modeling Agency and you were amazing. I had no idea the pressure you were under during that show!