The future of bridal is rental

Wedding gowns were once the final bastion of Philippine fashion; for some women, it can well be the best dress she wears in her lifetime. The opportunities afforded by feminism are changing all that. Working towards equality means a wedding isn’t a woman’s only milestone, but one of the many, meaningful roads she can embark on towards the life she desires and truly become herself.

This shift means today’s brides are prioritizing other things. She could be allotting her budget to other investments, or she’s simply ditching tradition in favor of individual expression. Sometimes that means five different gowns for a weekend of celebrations. Style authority Pam Quiñones muses, “We are in the age of hyper-expression.”

Together with fashion veterans Maica Tady, and Cindy Go, they founded curated fashion rental service Vestido, a disruptor and trailblazer in the industry when it was founded in 2018, catering to these demands with a closet of over 200 fashion treasures — from vintage Thierry Mugler to new Simone Rocha, from local icon Inno Sotto to ones making their mark, like Sassa Jimenez.

Jimenez, known for her exuberant, joyful tulle flounces and decadent embellishment, noticed this in her studio, too.  “A lot of women have moved away from tradition,” she observes.

She ran the idea by the Vestido girls in May of 2023 and after a year of intentional design, tight editing, and paying attention to their clients’ needs, they unveiled nine looks made entirely out of a decade’s worth of deadstock and archival fabric earlier this week to stylish Vestido brides and brides-to-be at their Makati studio. During the launch, Tady described the collection as “romantic yet off-kilter.”

Renting is a sustainable and economical way of building one’s wedding wardrobe, especially for a bride preparing for multiple events, ranging from the bridal shower to pamamanhikan, all the way to the civil ceremony, despedida de soltera, welcome party, the reception, and the after-party.

It took Jimenez and Vestido over a year to complete the nine-look collection so they can be styled in a multitude of ways and look and feel as if they were your own.

“We feel the energy, especially from the younger generation,” Quiñones comments. “We feel this clamor for something that is different, something they can mix and match, something not too traditional, something not too strict.”

The nine looks can be broken down into two to three separates, mixed and matched into multiple permutations. A brocade long-sleeve crop top and brocade cocoon skirt, laced up from the back, can be worn low-rise for a drop-waist look. The peplum satin top and sheer lace skirt ensemble can work separately; styling the top as a mini dress with the ruffled sash from the collection styled as cheeky bloomers for the reception. They can even be paired with the chantilly lace appliqué bralette and ball skirt in organza from another look and can go traditional and ultra-feminine for the ceremony or cheeky and fun for the bachelorette.

The crinkled shapeless tube dress looks ethereal worn on its own but can also be transformed into something #coquette with an oversized bow or the sash, wrapped around the chest to turn it into a modern, regency-style empire waist a la Bridgerton. Brides who don’t want to go all-white can opt for the cotton halter nude gown; you wouldn’t know it was made out of pajama fabric thanks to Jimenez’s trumpet silhouette. A gray lace column tube dress is a cool alternative and looks romantic with its lace bib overlay.

See-through sheer pieces offer versatility with layering options. A lace halter dress, completely bedazzled with pearls and sequins with a tulle trumpet hem, was styled with a white square neck dress underneath during the event for a ceremony look but looks fun and edgy for the after-party in these editorial pictures with just a bralette and tights. The stretch lace cream dress with ruffle cuffs and the sheer organza dress are figure-flattering options that can be worn with chic lingerie or a more covered slip.

Brides can combine these pieces with something they already own and cherish in their closets. If you do wish to keep your own, Jimenez says she accepts custom creations. Because the pieces in the collection are all adjustable and versatile, each rental feels entirely yours. You don’t even have to wait to be a bride to enjoy them.

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Vestido is at 2/F 5923 Algiers St. corner Jacobo St., Poblacion, Makati City. Explore the collection or book a studio fitting at vestidomanila.com or message (0917) 168 2621