Belles of the Ball

CEBU, Philippines -   "I wanted the whole thing to be like a fairy tale," candidly quipped best dressed awardee Farida Marcelle Vergara in the recently concluded Sacred Heart School - Hijas de Jesus Prom on her champagne sweetheart neckline dress with layers of pailette and fantasy tulle from waist down. "I wanted to have fantasy."

Every woman's right of passage to the world of style begins with the prom and graduation ball. No wonder this big and booming business, which started in the Western world, was quickly adopted by our modern Philippine setting.

The frenzy on what to wear all starts by the end of January until late April when the young girls, with their Mom's in tow, go to the different ateliers and boutiques to search for that dream dress.

Favorite and fail-safe classic is the Grecian (aka goddess) theme. In the case of Fara (as she is fondly called), her prom dress was a in a nude and gold leitmotif, which is evident in her personal color palette; an elegant champagne gown with flat tulle tiers that looked like they were dipped in sequins; a cloud of champagne fantasy tulle under sequins belted with a ribbon bow; and the drama of a full-skirted tulle gown beaded with more flat sequins in monochromatic order, finishing off in a sweeping train.

Balancing the seesaw of some dream-woven dresses that actually appeared to defy the laws of physics were two more looks with the recurring goddess theme were Jessica Chiongbian in white and gold strapless draped dress by the maestro Felix Yu and Sheena Cebrecus in ivory uni-shouldered silk chiffon dress by her Mom Myrna for Modelli.

There was something quite striking about these young ladies all dressed up in the same hue and they oozed in confidence, all set to face the big world in college.

Bravissimo! (FREEMAN)