Fashion and Beauty

Michael Cinco reveals secrets behind Vicki Belo's wedding dress

September 6, 2017 | 6:56am

Michael Cinco reveals secrets behind Vicki Belo's wedding dress

Among the highlights of the Belo-Kho wedding was the haute couture gown of the bride. Photo from Michael Cinco

MANILA, Philippines — In what is perhaps the most glamorous gathering of Pinoys in Paris, the wedding of Vicky Belo and Hayden Kho was held at the American Church along the Quai d'Orsay, with an opulent reception at the Palais Garnier.

The celebrated and controversial doctors showcased to the City of Love all that is beautiful and fashionable from the Philippines. Silver screen and society stars were present to toast for the lovers, all of them dressed in their finest, befitting the world’s couture capital.

But the highlight was, of course, the haute couture gown of the bride.

From his posh suite in a Paris hotel, couturier Michael Cinco shared insights on the most Instagrammed dress at the “Wedding of the Year” dubbed #aKhoandmyBeloved: “The wedding dress of Vicki Belo is in blush color made of French lace with silk thread baroque embroidery with French paillette, pearls and rose opal Swarovski crystals. It has a three-meter long train and it took me a thousand hours to create with 50 skilled workers,” Cinco explained in an exclusive interview with this writer.

“The only requests she wanted was she didn’t like to wear a white or ivory-colored wedding gown and she didn't want it to be heavy. She specifically requested the length on the front to be a bit shorter. But I convinced her if the length is short, it will make her look shorter,” Cinco said, most likely with a pout.

Jojie Dingcong, Belo’s manager, called the Samar-born Dubai-based designer in May to request if he could make her wedding dress for September.

“At that time I just had my fashion show in Dubai and Vicki called me and gave me some specifications of the dress that she wanted,” Cinco added.

“She sent me some images from my latest collection, ‘The Impalpable Dream of Versailles,’ and we got some ideas and inspirations from there. But I didn't send her the final design and she had no idea about the color and the design of the dress.”

When Belo told Cinco that the wedding might be at the Opera, he traveled to Paris last June to see the venue: “It was my first time to visit the place and I was inspired by the lavish and opulent interior,” he said.

Did the most famous beauty doctor in the Philippines ask for the cost of her wedding dress, or was money never an issue?

“I told her the price and she had no problem with that. But Jojie (Dingcong, Belo’s manager) asked for a special price and we both agreed. The price of the dress is strictly confidential,” Cinco giggled, most likely putting his custom-made shades on while nibbling on a croissant.