Take cues from Manila’s style-setters for your next ultra-elegant occasion.
The -ber months have arrived. Elsewhere in the world, it might mean a wardrobe transition from breezy summer dresses to floor-grazing scarves (as far as Lenny Kravitz is concerned), but if you’re in the Philippines, it means you’re probably already getting ready for the slew of holiday parties leading up to the Christmas and New Year season.
In the case of the latter, look no further for fashion inspiration than Louis Vuitton’s sleek, future-forward selection. Best worn with personal style mixed, these pieces looked just as good at The Back Room’s velvet banquettes as they did in hotel rooms. For a masterclass in doing runway with personal style, read on.
Anne Curtis
Anne Curtis’s style revolves around construction and silhouette. Colors and embellishments come second; for the actress, the emphasis is on form. That might have been why she suited up in a tailored jacket and pants fished out from the back of her closet for the Vogue Philippines Anniversary Gala—styled sans shirt, its effect was classic, sleek. But for the Vogue Gala after-party that required something more upbeat, she changed into Louis Vuitton’s off-the-shoulder pointed bib dress.
Graphically bold yet streamlined in its approach, it struck a balance between contemporary and casual cool. The dress was inspired by the structured look of uniforms. The “homme energy” Anne was going for that evening wasn’t lost on her as the straight silhouette was a modish take on 1920s-era garçonnes.
She accessorized simply with Louis Vuitton blacked-out sunglasses and diamond studs, allowing the dress’s understated design features, a singular LV-Circle embossed leather tab and cord across the chest, to take center focus.
Nadine Lustre
One look at Nadine Lustre’s Instagram and you’ll have an idea of her distinct sense of style. The actress and musician naturally gravitates towards feminine cuts spliced with edge and a sense of cool. If you had a similar disposition, your first instinct would be to grab leather. But Nadine, who recently decided to commit to her vegan lifestyle in all aspects including sartorial, shows all the ways in which you could do without it.
Vinyl, for one, has a similar effect. At the Vogue Gala after-party, she went for the Louis Vuitton vinyl bust tweed dress. The A-line mini dress is as timeless as they come—it’s a cut that would never fail you, no matter the occasion. Paired with the crossover motif that designer Nicolas Ghesquière relied on heavily for his Resort 2023 show, its silhouette is instantly fashioned anew. It’s paradigmatic of Nadine’s aesthetic sensibilities: classics remixed with play.
The same sentiment was reflected in how she styled the dress that evening, with black lace stockings and knee-high lace-up boots. Louis Vuitton moon cat-eye frames and dangling earrings finished off the look with sharp, sophisticated flair.
LA Aguinaldo
For model and content creator LA Aguinaldo, it’s all about the fit. Ask him, and the recipe for a perfect outfit would probably come in the form of a well-fitted jacket and a languid pair of pants—slouchy or tailored depending on the occasion, of course. For affairs like the afters, he’d probably reach for the former.
For the Vogue Gala after-party, he changed from a crisp all-black suit into bold, graphic prints between comfortable utilitarian separates. His workwear-inspired jacket was embroidered with a more abstract iteration of Louis Vuitton’s wordmark logo, complementing the organic brushstrokes of his shirt.
LA accessorized with a shot of neon via the LV multicolored soft trunk wearable wallet, patchwork printed with an abstract eye. Casual with elements of cool, it was a look well-suited to Manila’s resident boy-next-door.
Liza Soberano
“I’m in the middle of a transformation,” Liza Soberano told Vogue Philippines when asked about the sculptural Rajo Laurel archival piece she wore earlier that evening. “And, you know, becoming something that people aren’t used to seeing.”
The sculptural piece evoked the image of “a cocoon of some sort”—a fitting metaphor as she sits on the cusp of her caterpillar-to-butterfly moment. The past year has marked a brand new slate for the actress, and along with such a transformation of grand scale comes an exciting style revamp that will certainly be one to watch.
For the Vogue Gala after-party, Liza embraced Western flair and gilded glamour. Gold embellishments lined her vest and dress—together with glittering gold knee-high boots, it couldn’t have been more party-appropriate. With her hair styled in a neat plait and makeup done up with a brick red lip, she exuded 70’s California charm.
Mavy Legaspi
If his butter-yellow GMA Gala suit from earlier this year tells you anything, it’s that Mavy Legaspi isn’t one to shy away from color. The actor and media personality typically opts for the bright and the bold. (See the neon-and-denim pairing he donned at Vogue Philippines’ Young Blood party last summer.) But he isn’t exactly afraid of turning up in the unexpected either, going for a sleek, all-noir number for the gala after-party.
Mavy mixed sporty and semi-formal, topping a pair of slouchy slacks with a Louis Vuitton varsity jacket. The wardrobe staples made a contemporary silhouette that melded well into the elegant makings of Shangri-La The Fort’s Back Room—its lasting effect both luxe and lax.
Sarah Lahbati and Richard Gutierrez
Husband and wife Richard Gutierrez and Sarah Lahbati made quite the stylish duo after the Vogue Philippines Anniversary Gala festivities. It’s no surprise, as Sarah’s upwards of eight million followers constantly keep tabs on her quiet luxury style postings. Apart from the occasional tweed or striped patterns, the star keeps to monochrome and a neutral color palette.
The gala after-party was no exception, as she wore all-black pieces: the Louis Vuitton cotton drill crossover top paired with a leather skirt. For Sarah, no look is complete without a touch of drama; it came in the form of her top’s standing row of golden snap buttons, and the snakeskin gold-and-silver mini Capucines that carried all the essentials for an elegant evening ahead.
Her date Richard Gutierrez wore slacks topped by a clean leather jacket that featured a zoomed-in iteration of Louis Vuitton’s signature Damier pattern, finishing the look with a pair of timeless, silver-framed circle sunglasses.
Raymond Gutierrez
Mond Gutierrez knows how to throw a party. And by now, he’s mastered the art of attending one in style.
His lightweight coach jacket from Louis Vuitton inspires options for your next cocktail hour gathering; to stay comfortable for a night of mingling, consider a statement jacket to elevate jeans and a T-shirt. Screen-printed birds are emblazoned on the back, adding a touch of contrast that Mond matches with a pair of white pants. His usual neat quiff is swooped on his forehead to finish off the look with a retro feel.
Bryanboy
Fashion week front row mainstay Bryanboy knows a thing or two about arriving in style, even for an after-hours affair. Constantly experimenting with fashion, he often opts for vibrant colors, loud prints, and maximalized details that turn heads on any red carpet.
Texture is equally as important to Bryanboy, which might be why he chose a boxy, gold-tinseled jacquard vest to break up an all-black ensemble. He paired the look with a pair of narrow frames—Louis Vuitton’s four-point star in the middle.
Pia Wurtzbach
To end on a high note, Pia Wurtzbach also arrived later in the evening in head-to-toe noir from Louis Vuitton. For her off-duty looks, the beauty queen keeps to denim and a T-shirt, styled simply with a scarf or elevated with an oversized. Come nighttime, however, and she takes on full-on glam.
For your next party, consider taking notes from Miss Universe 2015’s gala after-party look, where she donned a semi-sheer jumpsuit, cinched with gold chain belts for added dimension. Its free, fluid silhouette is reminiscent of the disco-era jumpsuits synonymous with Studio 54, which were trending at the time for a reason—if your inclinations include letting loose on the dance floor, there’s no better option. With her hair neatly slicked back in a bun, gold accent earrings make the last touch.
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