Honeylet's inaugural gown made in 2 days, says designer
DAVAO CITY, Philippines — Honeylet Avanceña's garb for the presidential inauguration of her partner, Rodrigo Duterte, on June Thursday will just be "an ordinary gown" made in two days.
"Friday siya nagrequest. Then we made the design, submitted it though email. Ginawa namin siya ng Saturday kahit Sunday siya nagreply ng okay. Di niya alam na ginagawa na namin. Natapos namin siya Monday," Davao designer Aris Escarrilla of Chardin said in an interview with Philstar.com's Levi A. So and AJ Bolando.
LIVE COVERAGE: Inauguration of Rodrigo Duterte
The Davao-based designer said Duterte's common-law wife does not want flashy details and insisted on making the gown simple and classic. Less embroidery made the task less complicated.
Honeylet Avanceña with daughter "Kitty." STAR/File
"It's just an ordinary gown. Una napagusapan namin, if she's gonna wear a Filipiniana, but she declined. Gusto niya simple lang. Gown lang, no bead works. Simple, classic, elegant lang gusto niya," the designer said.
The color of the serpentine gown is green, which Honeylet chose herself. The fabric used for the short-sleeved gown is peau de soie, a smooth fabric with satin-like texture. She will pair it with a custom-made bag that features paua shells and bead embroideries.
Meanwhile, Duterte's youngest child Veronica, nicknamed Kitty, will wear a champagne gown created by the same design house.
Escarrilla said Honeylet insisted a on look that would not make Kitty too young or too old for the dress before settling for a pencil-cut pleated dress.
Asked about the price of the gown, the designer said he has not yet talked about it with the Duterte's family. — with AJ Bolando
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Alixandra Caole Vila reported from Manila. Levi A. So and AJ Bolando reported from Davao City.
