Last weekend we were at the “biggest expat event of the year” the British Women’s Association Annual Fashion show. I rested more than a week just so I could recover from sickness and I already had my white BCBG Max Azria dress and matching silver BCBG pumps all ready till Fab Ted BBM-ed me in the after noon “Long dress?” Oh no!
There are black tie affairs and Black Tie Affairs. Not all of them with women wearing long gowns – especially in the Philippines wherein the casual culture and tropical heat encourage short “formal” dresses. But Fab Ted, who attended this posh event last year as well assured me that most of the women wear long gowns to the BWA Fashion Show. So I pulled out some options and consulted him by sending some snapshots via BBM. I’ve never attended this event so I’m not sure how fab people dress, but I don’t wanna go overboard either.
Forgive the quality of my mobile phone pics and all the girly stickers – nothing makes me feel more girly than getting all dressed up for a fab black tie event!
- Very simple black gown with a see-through cut-out at the waist which was floor length but I had it cut shorter so that I could wear it more often. not as flattering as #2
- My first option the BCBG dress with matching shoes deemed to short
- My Dita Sandico Ong Filipiniana gown turned modern long gown notice I wrapped it different in the picture above and below? So many possible looks!
- Another Dita Sandico Ong Filipiniana gown turned modern – this style is a bit more matrona don’t you think? J-Mat in the house! (Junior Matrona – LOL!) I also felt like it was overwhelmingly massive with the fishtail train of my skirt. Click here to check out how I used this wrap as a Filipiniana.
Ended up going with #3 since it’s a more young and fresh look! What do you think? I did my own hair (starting to get the hang of it!) =D I had the perfect hot pink Aranaz bag made with local Filipino materials – my favorite capiz shells and wooden beads. I wore gold Kate Spade stilettos and brass bangles which are reproductions of a Philippine tribal bangle. The women of said Philippine tribe (sorry I forgot the name) wear the bangles for life and add to it until it covers most of their arms!
The best thing about the Dita Sandico Ong wraps is you can wear them in inumerable number of ways.. you just have to be creative! And the change totally transforms the outfit as well. They aren’t actually designed as Filipiniana gowns but it just depends on how I style it. I love that this makes em super practical as well! I mix and match the different tops and bottoms then I style the wraps the way I like!
My entire gown is made of banana fiber and I was so proud to wear items made not only by Filipino designers like Dita Sandico Ong and Amina Aranaz, but also made with Filipiniana materials. It also got the stamp of approval from my super fab friends and it makes for great conversation starters – I got a few people asking me throughout the night if they could touch my wrap. LOL! According to Olivier the Fab Frenchman: “I want to touch eet! Eet eez so eenviting!” =D
Check out how crazy versatile and the many endless ways one can wear a Dita Sandico Ong wrap below!
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uLqN0xjT65w]
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=if8RvinQG3k&]
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Your outfits are gorgeous!
Thank you for your sweet comment on my blog today. I´m glad you like my post.
Hugs, Nina
Thank you so much Nina! That is an amazing compliment coming from someone with such fantastic style as you! I can totally relate to you right now because I’ve been having a hard time shaking my sickness too! So I truly hope you feel better soon! Hugs back! <3
Wow!! You look fabulous!! I love the dress you picked for the night. I also love that you can make such a dramatic change of the look with different accessories i.e. wraps. I love the pink wrap on you! That color looks great on you. I think you might look good in spring colors. Just a guess. I’m not a color analyst, so I wouldn’t be able to analyze, but I just thought you look fab in spring colors. All the dresses are stylish and so fancy. The black and white wrap is very pretty, too. I love that you like to support Filipino designer like Dita Sandico Ong. It’s also cool that the dress is made with materials found in the Philippines. I think that the designers should pay people like you who go out to the world and blog about the dresses. What a great advertisement! Don’t you think?
LOVE IT! 🙂
Thanks Ta! =D
You are drop dead gorgeous from head to toe! Your hair do is perfect and so is your gown. And I cannot get over that genious wrap!! What, what what! And the banana fiber material gown – say what again???
I have to tell ya, I met several key designers and production people in the fashion show last Saturday who are from Philippines! Impressive. Way to go, neighbour 🙂
Hi Starlet! Thank you so much for your generous compliments. It totally made my day! I love how I can totally feel your vibrant personality and all the energy in your comment! *smiling from ear to ear)
If I’m not mistaken Dita Sandico Ong had a fashion show in NYC recently so her banana wraps must be available in the US now. They are truly amazing! How wonderful to hear that fellow Filipinos are doing well in the fashion industry there. I can’t wait to read your blog post on it!
Hello. You look really gorgeous. I was really inspired by your look. I was looking for Filipiniana looks and I came across your site. Thank you for the inspiration! 🙂 God bless!
Hi Valerie, Thank you so much for the lovely message and compliment! I am so happy that you found my blog and it inspired you with your Filipiniana look. =) Have a great week ahead!
i love the wrap! it looks pretty on you!
Thanks so much Anne ❤