The royal couturier

Diana was definitely the most beautiful person I have ever met – both in and out," declares David Emanuel, an old friend of the former nursery school assistant, the shy Lady Di, before she became the glamorous yet caring Princess of Wales.

"Diana was young, utterly divine. She was truly sincere, terribly kind and had a great sense of humor. Absolute fun! However, whenever I read in print or view on film sensationalized versions of her life story, portraying a completely different individual altogether, a person I never knew, I do get incredibly upset, for Diana never changed in all the years," David claims.

He should know, for he dressed her from pre-engagement days and subsequently for stately public engagements, including several royal tours around the globe, and strictly private get-togethers till the end of her days. "I knew her socially," he admits, "and oftentimes, would receive invitations to attend official functions to raise funds for the many charitable organizations she headed." And in between all these, specifically in 1981, how can anyone possibly forget the commission of a lifetime – to co-design the wedding gown of the Lady Diana Spencer for her marriage to Prince Charles, the heir to the British throne, in a historical event of magnificent splendor at the imposing St. Paul’s Cathedral, watched by over 700 million people worldwide.

Born in an idyllic little town in Wales, David recalls a "lovely, happy childhood with an adoring set of parents and a joy growing up with ten other siblings. It was just marvelous."

While as a student at the Welsh capital city of Cardiff, young David did some apprentice training in London with Sir Hardy Amies, the much revered couturier of long standing of the present British monarch, Queen Elizabeth II. "It was the most amazing fashion education," he explains, "and what a thrill it was, to be offered an exciting job right there and then which I regretfully could not accept as I was still in school."

More than ever, he was determined to further his knowledge in fashion designing. So he enrolled at the Royal College of Arts in London. And surely enough he did well – exceptionally, excellently well, that in time, David Emanuel established himself as a leading couturier of international fame.

Known for his own individualistic designs, from chic daywear to elegant cocktail and formal evening gowns, not to mention bridal ensembles – his glamorous and fabulous attires were worn by ladies of style and substance on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean, from Buckingham Palace to the White House. David counts among his regular clients members of the European Royal Families such as the Duchess of Kent and some of world’s most interestingly beautiful women like Elizabeth Taylor, Joan Collins, Faye Dunaway, Ivana Trump, Sophie Ward and Shakira Caine.

Though he realizes and appreciates the important role of the media – "They are so very, very supportive in everything I do," David refrains from having an annual fashion show. If needed be and only when necessary, he has one, an intimate one, strictly for his patrons.

Since 1990, when he first came out with his own label David Emanuel Couture, the fashion designer sees his customers by appointment only at his private suite at one of London’s most prestigious hotels, The Lanesborough on Hyde Park Corner in Knightsbridge, where he offers his exclusive and personalized service.

"I want my clients to know I’m there from my first sketch to the final creation. After which I offer advice on accessories – even hair and make-up. There’s no fuss. They never feel intimidated – they know I’m on their side and that I want them to look and feel their very best," declares David. "Service is highly personal and every client leaves with a superb couture ensemble, even down to, believe it or not, the personalized hangers." "Oh yes," he continues, "there are no racks of clothes – just a few examples from each season’s collection."

Though couture has always been a major part of his life, what brought David Emanuel to our shores was the highly-rated television show Shop the World, of which he is the host. He is a guest of the Invitational Travel Program, a pet priority project of Secretary Roberto Pagdanganan of the Department of Tourism, wherein members of the media are invited to enable them to share with their readers or viewers their first hand experiences of our tourist products and services. Produced by Sandra Carter Productions, it showcases the lifestyle and cultures of the different nations, together with its fashion and shopping.

According to Tourism attache Emma Ruth Yulo of the Department of Tourism New York Office who initiated the press trip, each 30-minute episode in a series of 13 destinations such as Thailand, China, India, Australia and Germany, is syndicated with the various networks worldwide. "In the New York area, the program airs on Sundays on NBC," Yulo says, "and since Mr. Emanuel is more than just a household name round the globe, his show, focusing on our attractions and items that are uniquely Philippines, will leave an indelible mark in the viewers’ memories and may provide a good reason for them to travel all the way to our country."

As such, David is constantly and continuously beseeched to comment on arts and culture, style and tastes, travel and leisure, his works and his life on television and radio. He has been interviewed by the world’s best interviewers from Ed Sullivan to Selina Scott, from Barbara Walters to Jane Pauley. Needless to say, David is equally at home as the presenter himself. He served the sole anchor of several successful television shows – mostly a 10-part fashion series, such as David Emanuel Fashion Shows, David Emanuel Makeover, Designed by Emanuel, and many, many others.

He has even found the time to author a best seller of a book, Style for all Seasons, and writes weekly style columns for the Western Mail and Westcountry Life magazine.

And that’s not all. Having worked with the top photographers, Lord Snowdon and Lord Lichfield, the former brother-in-law and a cousin of Queen Elizabeth II respectively, David Bailey and the late Norman Parkinson, it was just a matter of time before he would take his own dramatic pictures. David remembers his very first commission from the Sunday Times. "I photographed one of my favorite clients, Mrs. Richard Burton, in one of my cocktail dresses – a commission filmed for television to capture every moment! The project helped achieve my ambition to show my work from sketchpad to editorial page – total involvement in every detail."

Inasmuch as David enjoys the theater and the ballet, he has designed sets and costumes for Cinderella at the London Palladium and Frankenstein, the Modern Promotheus for the Royal Ballet at La Scala in Milan and at the Covent Garden in London. He also made the gowns for divas for concerts and films such as Jane Seymour in War and Remembrance.

We could have gone on and on chatting the night away at the lobby of the Shangri-la’s Mactan Island Resort when we both realized it was way past midnight and the next day we had to be up early to interview Kenneth Cobonpue, Cebu’s premier furniture designer at his showroom on our way to the specific hidden spot on one of the nearby hills where David had visions for the ideal opening shot. But I still had at the back of my mind at least a dozen more topics to cover. So very quickly here are some questions and his brief replies.

Name some of your career highlights.

DAVID EMANUEL: Very quickly you say – the dressing of Lady Diana Spencer before and after she became the Princess of Wales . . . chosen as the only British designer to star in the fashion finale of the Night of a Hundred Stars at the Radio City Hall in New York . . . teaming up with Sir Bob Geldof for Fashion Aid, a charity fashion extravaganza at the Royal Albert Hall in London and repeated a few years later in Tokyo . . . appearing with the Princess of Wales in the ITV documentary and book, In Private, In Public . . .

Your loves?

My children – son Oliver, age 23, an investment banker with Gunther Sachs in the City of London, and daughter Eloise who at age 20, is the assistant director of a play presently at the West End . . . tennis and jet water skiing with Oliver . . . riding with Eloise . . . Australian scenery . . . the "ease" of New York . . . opera in Verona . . . skiing in Gstaad . . . ballet anywhere . . . Maria Callas singing anything . . . period costume movies . . . beautiful, gorgeous women – Elizabeth Taylor in the Taming of the Shrew and Glenn Close in Dangerous Liaisons . . . good conversation at dinner parties . . . romantic and Trompe L’Oeil painting . . . Cecil Beaton as artist and photographer . . . taking fashion photographs . . . Valentino’s glamour . . . Calvin Klein’s understatement . . . good fabric, real fabric that holds color and behaves beautifully.

When asked to enumerate his hates, he closes his eyes and whispers, "Fake people . . . bad manners . . . pseudo coutures . . . cheap fabric . . . badly fitted clothes."

Said like a true master and rightfully so.

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Some of the information was obtained from David Emanuel’s official bio.