Cover Mark Bumgarner talks dressing Kylie Verzosa and Pia Wurtzbach for their second appearances on the Cannes Film Festival red carpet (Photo: stylized with Canva)
Mark Bumgarner talks dressing Kylie Verzosa and Pia Wurtzbach for their second appearances on the Cannes Film Festival red carpet (Photo: stylized with Canva)
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In an exclusive interview with Tatler, fashion designer Mark Bumgarner breaks down Kylie Verzosa and Pia Wurtzbach’s custom ensembles for their second time at the Cannes Film Festival red carpet
The Cannes Film Festival wrapped up its 11 days of star-studded frenzy on May 25 and brought us a pick of head-turning red-carpet fashion moments from the likes of Bella Hadid and Naomi Campbell, to name a few. The festival premises also played host to two familiar Filipino faces, Pia Wurtzbach and Kylie Verzosa, who radiated absolute glamour in custom gowns by renowned Filipino designer Mark Bumgarner.
The occasion marks Verzosa and Wurtzbach’s second appearance at the prestigious gathering. The designer comments, “Pia and Kylie are both stunning women, and I am so lucky to have this chance to work on their looks for Cannes. This marks their sophomore return to the [Cannes] red carpet. I treat this as an important global event where celebrities from all over the world come together to celebrate movies and fashion.”
More from Tatler: Filipinas on the Cannes red carpet: Dolly de Leon, Heart Evangelista, Pia Wurtzbach Jauncey and more
Above Kylie Verzosa in one of her previous Mark Bumgarner looks from last year's Cannes Film Festival (Photo: Andreas Rentz/Getty Images)
Above Pia Wurtzbach in one of her previous Mark Bumgarner looks from last year's Cannes Film Festival (Photo: Daniele Venturelli/WireImage)
Kylie Verzosa in one of her previous Mark Bumgarner looks from last year's Cannes Film Festival (Photo: Andreas Rentz/Getty Images)
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The designer describes his aesthetic as ‘glamorous with an edge’, a sentiment consistently reflected in his impressive portfolio. This isn’t the first time Bumgarner’s designs have made a foray onto the French festival’s red carpet. Wurtzbach is a familiar face on the international stage and has sported many Bumgarner pieces over the years.
For her second appearance at Cannes, she was dressed in a form-flattering, minimalist gown draped from the back, with a plunging neckline made of a liquid satin material that grants a futuristic twist. Bumgarner, who worked with Wurtzbach’s stylist Perry Tabora, states, “Pia is a very elegant woman with a body and face that every designer would dream to dress. She loves to toy with silhouettes and fabric, and is not afraid to try on new things.”
The former beauty queen’s second look, which she showed off while posing with husband Jeremy Jauncey, consisted of a pale gold chainmail gown with a flattering neckline, elegant draping, and a thigh-high slit. This marked a challenge for Bumgarner, as it was his first time working with chainmail to create an evening gown. “Working with chainmail is a difficult thing to do. It requires great precision with how it drapes and falls.”
Due to the material, Bumgarner and his team took strategic measures regarding the seaming process. It required the arduous task of hand sewing the gown instead of relying on sewing machines. They resorted to developing a new technique to make the seams invisible. The results speak for themselves, as Bumgarner describes the process as “painful but worth it.”
Above Pia Wurtzbach in a gold chainmail evening gown by Mark Bumgarner
Above Pia Wurtzbach in a custom black silk gown by Mark Bumgarner (Photo: Courtesy of Mark Bumgarner)
Pia Wurtzbach in a gold chainmail evening gown by Mark Bumgarner
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One of Verzosa’s two looks, a pink gown embellished with rosettes, resembles the similarly-coloured number she donned at last year’s festival, albeit with a more romantic twist and in a different shade. The gown was replete with layers upon layers of tulle with strips of organza to create a cascading effect.
“I always want Kylie to be dressed elegantly but alluring. She also has a very specific style: young, vibrant, and a little over the top [...] She knows which silhouette looks best on her body type, and she gives me full reign with the design and execution. She’s also open to experimentation as long as she feels comfortable.”
Above Kylie Verzosa stuns in a pink tulle gown by Mark Bumgarner (Photo: Juan Padilla)
Above Kylie Versoza wears a custom black Chantilly lace Mark Bumgarner gown (Photo: Juan Padilla)
Kylie Verzosa stuns in a pink tulle gown by Mark Bumgarner (Photo: Juan Padilla)
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Verzosa’s other dress, a sultry ensemble consisting of a structured mermaid silhouette bedecked in black Chantilly lace, is an homage to her new shapewear business, Solá. “It had an exaggerated proportion to create this dramatic effect,” Bumgarner adds. The designer also shared an anecdote, “We would joke that this look signifies her ‘mob-wife’ era, which is a contrast to her sweet personality.”
Bumgarner has been crafting formal wear for Verzosa and Wurtzbach for years, and he describes their frequent collaborations as “smooth, easy, and fast”. “They are both stunning women, and I am so lucky to have this chance to work on their looks for Cannes.”
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About
Julianna has been interested in leading a literary life since she first read Frances Hodgson Burnett's A Little Princess at eight. Before working with Tatler, she was an archive intern at The Center for Fiction in Brooklyn, New York. She is a textbook Pisces who devotes most of her spare time to her crochet projects, watching classic films, and going through her never-ending pile of unread books. She studied creative writing, global literature and art history at Sarah Lawrence College, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 2022. Toni Morrison, Nora Ephron, Clarice Lispector and Jia Tolentino are among her all-time favourite writers.
Work
Julianna writes about fashion, beauty, sustainability, and the arts. She is always keen on conducting interviews with talented women who are changing the game in their respective fields.
For event invites and story leads, hit her up at julianna.cabili@tatlerasia.com
