The sight of luxury, the kind you only see browsing through your feed in all its web-optimized splendor, I discovered, is debilitating. It will make you question everything you believe in, challenge rational thought, and — literally — make you gasp like you never thought you could. During the final days of touching up the first Vera Wang store in the Philippines, I happened to walk past it and felt a vital organ, possibly my heart, drop to my stomach. There they were, peeking out between two panels of solid black walls: lace, tulle and organza sewn together into delicate puffs, sinful and beckoning. This must be what Andy felt walking into the fashion closet of Vogue, I thought to myself. You think you couldn’t care less, then suddenly, you are Gollum. There was something about all that pristine white seemingly floating inside the softly-lit, barely adorned space that makes the gowns appear bewitching. The Vera Wang store at 8 Rockwell is the most solemn you’ll ever see — a church for both believers of weddings and believers of fashion, and its doors are now open to all. Praise be!
Don’t call Vera Wang a “household name,” a term ought to be reserved for the likes of toothpaste and soda. Her name has become a byword for bridal fashion since she opened her first store in 1990 on Madison Avenue in New York. Her story is also aspirational. She was the youngest editor at Vogue and worked there for 17 years before officially going into fashion design — she’s known for being proud of working for others for such a long time, calling her stint as an employee being “paid to learn.” Now 67, she opens her first store in the Philippines, a booming luxury market in Southeast Asia.
“Filipinos have always been very fashionable and stylish. We see it in the glamour of our Filipiniana dresses and even in how we like to celebrate holidays and host parties. We appreciate beauty and craftsmanship and we used to have to go overseas for it. I think luxury brands and fashion houses are starting to pay attention to this fact and this is why little by little we see them come into our market. There is definitely still a lot of space for growth in the luxury segment and we will most likely see it grow more and more every year. Filipinos also are becoming more and more sophisticated and bold about their fashion choices and this translates into their decisions with regard to the gowns they choose to wear (Isabel Daza, Toni Gonzaga and Isabel Oli are among the local celebrities who chose Vera Wang for their wedding day) as they walk down the aisle so they are ready for more options and that is what we are giving them by opening the flagship store of bridal's most successful and prominent designer,” says managing partner of Vera Wang Philippines, Valerie Zayco. “From a business perspective we felt like Filipino brides are maturing in terms of their tastes and desires so we felt that it was the perfect time to have a Vera Wang flagship store in Manila,” she adds.
The Vera Wang boutique in the Philippines occupies a 170-square-meter area and features a contemporary look, with graphite concrete floors, charcoal gray walls, etched glass doors and blackened steel design elements. It offers a salon experience that is about understated elegance, sophistication and modernity.
The store is located at 8 Rockwell, a prime spot within Rockwell Center just across Power Plant Mall. It’s a retail block for upscale shopping. “The Vera Wang clientele is very discerning and we appreciate the exclusivity and privacy offered by 8 Rockwell, so we believe it would make the perfect venue for our flagship store. Here, our brides would feel at ease and relaxed when making one of her most important choices,” Zayco says.
Bourdoir Brides And Fair Verona
Known for having given bridalwear a facelift, Wang continues to do so with every collection. “Our 2017 spring summer and fall winter collections are very feminine, whimsical, and romantic with a touch of drama. Many times, brides use their wedding gowns as the inspiration for the rest of their wedding details,” Zayco says.
Spring 2017 sees the modern bride running through an English garden, in a film Wang created with director and fashion industry favorite Gordon von Steiner. Wang reimagines boudoir dressing, mixing romance with sexuality in bustier tops, ballgowns with feminine appliqués, and neck pieces that echo 18th century fashion.
For fall 2017, Wang takes the bride to 17th century Verona, perhaps rewriting the story of Juliet — with a happy ending and a better dress. The grand fashion of the era is interpreted for the modern bride with exaggerated off-the-shoulder sleeves, fluid and feminine draping, sexier necklines, and, in one dress, a front slit that reveals a whole lot of ballgown.
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In the Philippines, Vera Wang is located at 8 Rockwell, Plaza Dr., Makati, Metro Manila. For appointments and inquiries, email philippines@verawang.com or call (02) 804-5071.
What you need to know
• How far in advance must the gown be purchased?
“It is ideal that brides purchase their gowns eight months before their wedding as it takes about six months for their gowns to be made in the USA and delivered to Manila. It is common for brides’ weights to fluctuate just before the wedding so it’s best to have time for additional minor alterations, if needed,” says managing partner of Vera Wang Philippines, Valerie Zayco.
• How much will alterations cost me?
All Vera Wang stores offer alterations but only Vera Wang Manila does it for free.
• Will the store carry complete collections?
The store has a very wide selection of classic collection gowns as well as gowns from seasonal collections, which come out twice a year.
• Can I purchase a gown that’s not in the store?
Brides may purchase through the store any of the Vera Wang collection’s Luxe collection gowns.
• What is the price point of a Vera Wang wedding gown?
The prices start at P200,000. Some of the special gowns go up to P700,000. However, most of the gowns range in the P280,000 to P400,000 range. Prices are controlled globally so you will see similar prices in other Vera Wang stores.