I was so very happy to hear that this year’s Bb. Pilipinas Fashion Show at the Araneta Coliseum (March 6, 2014) was going to incorporate the National Costume competition. What a great idea from Team Binibini! I was eager to see the girls parade in Filipiniana of all kinds and dying to see the designs. This is not just about the girls, but about the beauty and significance of their costumes.
My major irritation though is that they failed to mention the designers of these beautiful creations! What would it have cost to include their names somehow during the program? Even to flash the designer’s names on screen would have been enough. What an oversight, in my humble opinion!
Nevertheless, I loved almost all the gowns and costumes and appreciated each one. In this series of blog posts, I’ll go through each costume and share my thoughts… those highlighted in RED are the gowns and girls that impressed me!
21. Racquel Kabigting
I had lots of problems with this gown, first and foremost was that Racquel Kabigting had to keep kicking the front part of the extremely stiff hem in order to move forward. Not a practical or safe gown to walk in. But Racquel, you were really amazing because you made it look easy. Secondly, there were too many things going on design-wise so I didn’t really know where to look. But I SOOO get the message of the costume – respect our natural resources, use them wisely and be proud of them. If I’m not mistaken, the main material of this gown is coir…
*****
22. Mary Anne Bianca Guidotti
Mary Anne Bianca Guidotti, a pageant favorite if we are to go by the adoring comments in support of her in various pageant blogs and forums, was demurely understated in a red gown with gold filigree. It is a feel-good gown that made me think of Christmas presents and holiday cheer! How I would love to wear this at a December party in the White House… (only in my dreams, aahaha!)
*****
23. Nichole Marie Manalo
The gown worn by government hospital nurse Nichole Marie Manalo is the kind that doesn’t really make a big impression upon first glance, but it GROWS on you. Like moss. And mossy forests is what I thought of with the green hue of the fabric and intricate detailing on gown’s bodice. In fact she seemed to me like a wood nymph off to attend Oberon and Titiana’s party…
*****
24. Ednornance Agustin
This light henna gown on Davaoeña Ednornance Agustin is something I would expect to see in Fashion Week. While I initially thought that there were too many textures and patterns going on, the thing that pulls this gown together, saving it from confusion is the monochromatic theme. So basically I was thinking NO to this gown at first, but after gazing upon it I realized that it is a striking work of modern art and deserves a YES from this blogger…
*****
25. Mary Jean “MJ” Lastimosa
Nothing less than a stunning silhouette from MJ Lastimosa who looked like a winner in this baby yellow Terno. Confession: I thought of Ara Arida in her yellow Miss U gown when MJ came out. But I prefer THIS gown that MJ wore, so much more….
*****
