Designers and Muses: 7 prominent designers create the gown of their dreams

It started with an idea that Kathy Yap-Huang brought up, which Dennis Lustico hadn’t initially considered. “What came out was a gown that’s nostalgic and yet completely modern,” he said. Their collaboration is a match made in heaven. While Lustico’s aesthetic is rooted in romanticism and classicism, Yap-Huang’s bold, forward-thinking style adds an edge. The result is a dove grey gown with fabric frayed to resemble feathers, creating an ethereal, fairy-like look.

Lacquered wood beads add a unique embellishment, blending elegance with contemporary flair. Their creative partnership consistently produces striking and innovative designs, with this creation beautifully reflecting their shared vision—merging the perspectives of both designer and muse.

Related: Dennis Lustico celebrates 25 years in the industry with his latest collection, Pamana

Proud Cebuano Cary Santiago envisions his muse as a symbol of benevolence and grace, selecting the radiant jeweller Jen Viloria to embody this ideal. Her dress features a figure-hugging silhouette in black tulle, with a long train that culminates in a scalloped hem. It is designed to highlight her elegant neck and shoulders, allowing Viloria to showcase a brilliant pair of earrings. The gown’s motif pays homage to the sampaguita, adding a touch of local culture to the overall look.

“I recognise her as someone who gives back to her community. She has that spirit of philanthropy,” said Santiago.

To Ivarluski Aseron, Ria Prieto is more than just a close friend—she is a true creative collaborator who continues to inspire his work. Upon receiving his first sketch, she suggested a particular colour that would elevate the design, and he embraced her vision. The result is an impressive creation featuring Aseron’s emblematic, architectural style. Yards of blue silk organza were cut into strips to create an optical illusion that swirls and shifts as Prieto moves.

“I wanted something simple but textured, that creates different forms with movement,” he said. The muse, with her impeccable style, harnesses these details to her full advantage.

A muse is a goddess, says Puey Quiñones; she is fierce, empowered and magnetic, all at once. For him, Em Aglipay Villar symbolises this vision, standing poised and elegant in a billowing gown that seems as though it just jumped out of a fairy tale. The designer has constructed the piece with pink silk chiffon he collected during a trip to Paris, adorning it with a constellation of Swarovski crystals.

The creation reflects how he sees Villar: stylish, bold and unafraid to try new things. He appreciates that though it is not a conventional ball gown, it is dramatic yet elegant, reflecting his taste for the extraordinary. “She’s not afraid to wear something new or different, which is how I think of my brand,” he said.

Every client who walks into Rajo Laurel’s studio is welcomed by a spirit of collaboration. He finds magic in this process, as that person will be the one who will don his creations. His relationship with his muse, Stephanie Kienle Gonzalez, is symbiotic in many aspects. Joint projects between the two bring forth inspiration simply through conversation. According to Laurel, Gonzalez’s beauty glows from the inside.

“That light is pushed by creativity and all this brings me so much joy and happiness,” he commented. Their latest project together is a black gown inspired by 18th century corsetry, balanced with a dash of aesthetics derived from the late Eighties.

There is more to Mark Bumgarner’s ideal muse than meets the eye: independent at the same time elegant, and sharing his deep love for fashion. These are the qualities he saw in Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach, a longtime friend and collaborator. So for the beauty queen, he created a dress in burnt orange jersey fabric, manipulated to resemble a cocoon, with an exaggerated hourglass figure and a long train that compliments her towering height.

The design reflects his fascination with butterflies as symbols of transformation. “Pia’s journey is not just an inspiration to me but to countless others,” he remarked.

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