ABS-CBN Ball 2019: Fans, editors name top 10 best dressed women
MANILA, Philippines — From fans to fashion and lifestyle editors, the people have spoken. Here are the most talked about looks from the recent ABS-CBN Ball in Shangri-La The Fort, Taguig City.
Pia Wurtzbach
Pia at the red carpet. Philstar.com/Kat Leandicho
Even Philstar.com’s foreign readers were raving about Pia, not only for the fierce Ezra Couture cropped Terno she wore at the ball, but also for the other Filipiniana looks she shared on her Instagram before the ball.
“Came out to play,” Miss Universe 2015 said in the caption of her Instagram post showing her animal print ball look.
Bea Alonzo
Bea at the red carpet (left) and at the press room. Philstar.com/Kat Leandicho, Erwin Cgadas Jr.
“It’s like a Spanish senorita, so that we could showcase Spanish influence in the Philippines,” Bea told Philstar.com on the inspiration behind her modern black Terno designed by Cebu-based Jun Escario.
She might have been ranked as among the “worst” dressed that night, still, many fashion editors surveyed by Philstar.com believed that Bea deserves to be awarded Best Dressed at the ball.
Beauty Gonzalez
Beauty at the press room. Philstar.com/Erwin Cgadas Jr.
The “Kadenang Ginto” star’s “The Freedom Gown” by Cebu-based designer Cary Santiago is by far the most popular ball look among Philstar.com followers on Twitter.
Many fans compared her dress to Mockingjay or the "Hunger Games" gown worn by Jennifer Lawrence in the movie saga.
“A Free Philippines, Strong and Free women, Freedom to have the education everyone deserves,” Beauty said on Instagram about the ethos behind her silvery silk Terno with matching 1940s jewelry and emerald drop earrings from Colombia.
Anne Curtis
Anne at the press room (left) and at the red carpet. Philstar.com/Erwin Cgadas Jr., Kat Leandicho
“Oh, we wanted to make something like classic meets modern and something that would last for a long time,” the “It’s Showtime” host said of her nude Mich Dulce Terno, which some Internet users might find too sweet or not age-appropriate for the star, but many fashion editors think otherwise.
Anne said the gown, in an unexpected but classic shade and with a matching hat, typical of Mich’s trademark, was a collaboration between her and Mich.
In pictures, Anne hid behind the oversized butterfly sleeves like a “Dalagang Pilipina” hiding from an “abaniko” or a fan. Although oversized, the sleeves were sheer, giving a peek of her elegant and classic makeup.
Liza Soberano
Liza with Enrique Gil at the press room (left) and at the red carpet. Philstar.com/Erwin Cgadas Jr., Kat Leandicho
In an interview with Philstar.com, Liza said her Patricia Santos gown has a modern Filipiniana silhouette accentuated with traditional embroidery.
“It’s made modern by crystals and it’s sheer,” she said of her silvery-nude serpentine dress with a bare back and a plunging neckline.
Kathryn Bernardo
Kathryn with Daniel Padilla in the press room (left). Philstar.com/Erwin Cgadas Jr.
Kathryn, in an interview with Philstar.com, said she asked her designer, Michael Cinco, to incorporate ethnic elements like the T’nalak weave into her dress, which the Dubai-based designer rendered in his signature Swarovski crystals.
“Gusto ko ‘yung color n’ya. Para maiba lang,” Kathryn said of her pink Terno.
“When I visited @michael5inco’s atelier in Dubai, he actually had me try on several dresses to check the best cut, color, and silhouette for me. I fell in love with everything tbh, but in the end we were torn between red or pink (you already know what I chose),” she narrated on Instagram.
“I originally requested to incorporate T’nalak prints to make the look very Filipino, and he did so without compromising the signature Michael Cinco aesthetic by mimicking the patterns using Swarovski crystals. Thank you so much Michael and team for accommodating me despite your very busy schedule and for making our vision a reality! This Filipiniana is everything I wanted and more. I am forever your fan and I could only wish for more collaborations in the future. Special thanks to @valtaguba as well for helping us out with the fittings and minor alterations!”
Jayda Avanzado
Jayda at the red carpet (left) and at the press room. Philstar.com/Erwin Cgadas Jr., Kat Leandicho
“I just want to go for a very modern Filipiniana take and still honoring the traditional Filipiniana and making it shining, shimmering, splendid ika nga,” the young singer described to Philstar.com her beaded silver Oliver Tolentino gown, which she juxtaposed against classic red lips and makeup.
Some Internet users said they think the dress made Dingdong Avanzado and Jessa Zaragoza’s daughter look older than her age. But the silver dress reflected the singer’s porcelain complexion and pleasant personality.
Kira Balinger
Kira at the red carpet (left) and at the press room. Philstar.com/Erwin Cgadas Jr., Kat Leandicho
This young star is sure to snag bigger projects soon as she stood out in the ball’s red carpet for her classic beauty complemented by her rhinestone-studded, lacey Mark Bumgarner number.
Kylie Verzosa
Kylie at the red carpet. Philstar.com/Kat Leandicho
Miss International 2016 was smokin’ hot in her laser-cut black and nude Cary Santiago Terno that highlighted her curves.
Nadine Lustre
Nadine at the red carpet. Philstar.com/Kat Leandicho
The singer-actress looked every bit like a Pinay goddess in a fire engine red Michael Leyva creation with a high slit that showed her trending thigh.
