This year's Preview Ball held at the Marriott Grand Ballroom in Newport World Resorts was a celebration of authenticity, with celebrities and industry personalities gracing the nude carpet in their best "creative skin tone formal" attire. Naturally, our January cover girl, Melai Cantiveros, made sure to make a fashion statement at the event– dressed in a stunning Job Dacon creation, as styled by Ica Villanueva.
LOOK: Melai Cantiveros at Preview Ball 2024
A signature Job Dacon piece is synonymous with opulence and dramatic corsetry, and Melai’s custom ensemble was no exception. The Cavite-born designer infused his signature touch of opulence and wonder into the outfit, making it a highly wearable piece of art. The standout feature? Supersized ruffles along the neckline of the corseted bodice. The look has sophistication and grandeur written all over it, all while maintaining a tasteful balance between form and structure.
According to Job, the custom look for Melai draws inspiration from the mamarang mushroom, scientifically known as Termitomyces cartilaginous. This mushroom, with its distinctly fanned cap and gills, is a staple in Filipino cuisine and holds cultural significance as a vital source of nourishment and income for agricultural communities. "We really want to give her those much-needed details [while] also accentuating her figure," Job tells Preview. Stylist Ica Villanueva echoed similar sentiments, noting that the design focused on accentuating her figure. "[The look features a] corset base, [with a cut that will] show her legs and collarbones, but still there’s a sense of extravagance through the ruffles," she explains.
To match the texture of the mushroom, Job chose cotton taffeta, giving the dress a soft, matte finish to mimic that of the mamarang’s surface. He constructed the piece with his signature corset dress as its base, which according to Job, was a conscious decision to give the look "that much-needed touch of old-world glamor and richness."
The ensemble was further punctuated with metallic accessories for a glint of modern edge.
You were a total showstopper, Melai!
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