Change is good

CEBU, Philippines - “Being a woman myself, I know that’s no small thing,” begins Tippi Ocampo, “which is why I do my best to design a gown that highlights the bride’s beauty and uniqueness more than anything else.”

So that’s how she becomes the bride’s best friend. The Fashion and Design Council of the Philippines member is famous for her revolutionary take on details and her devotion to the Filipino culture. Like watching unpredictable tides, she always keeps an eye out for coming trends.

“My design philosophy is all about the interesting details. I’m not big on over-the-top dramatic flourishes. I’m often inspired by the bride and her interests, and I also love vintage and designing feminine, elegant gowns with a touch of humor or whimsy.”

And she means the soaring kind of spirit.

Tippi’s history tells that she has already combined edgy with romantic appliqués using lace cut-outs and asymmetrical silhouettes. Her focus remains on the bride’s comfort, showing her penchant for innovative fabric treatments.

But personality and necessity reign supreme in the selection hierarchy. Tippi observes: “Bride-to-be’s first concern—other than wanting to look beautiful, of course—is usually wedding costs since expenses can easily go well over budget, so this is something that we discuss early on.”

The solution is simple: “There are many imaginative ways to create beautiful, unique wedding (and entourage) gowns, and not all of them have to cost an arm and a leg.”

“Brides are a lot less conservative now than they were just a few years ago, and there is such a wide variety of wedding gown designs now, which is great,” she goes on. “Bridal gowns now are much more fashion forward and influenced by many global trends, which recently have been focusing on different local cultures. My fashion forecast for wedding gowns is the modernization of the traditional Filipiniana.”

Change turns her on. The Cebuano-born designer who’s currently based in Manila, began at an advertising firm before starting her own line of ready-to-wear, wedding dresses, and custom-fit. Ultimately, she has released her fashion literature “Not by the Book.”–Clint Holton Potestas  (FREEMAN)