Musings with Rosa Clara

Visiting Manila for the first time, renowned international bridal designer Rosa Clara presented her 2018 collection to the country’s fashionable set at The Conservatory of The Peninsula Manila and to meet her five Philippine muses — Heart Ongpauco Escudero, Tootsie Angara, Sara Black, Martine Cajucom and yours truly.

For the past 20 years, Rosa has been known for beautiful dresses that start with a young girl’s First Communion to party (vestidos de fiesta) and bridal gowns that fulfill any girl’s dream. Hollywood’s Eva Longoria and Sofia Vergara have been seen on the red carpet and at top society events wearing her timeless gowns.

Cristalle Belo-Pitt, Allana Montelibano, Vicky Zubiri and Anton Corro

“The fabrics used in the collection adapt well to the body and highlight the female figure,” said Rosa Clará. “We are presenting the sexiest collection I have ever designed. Chantilly and French lace are used in most of the bridal pieces, which adds lightness to the ethereal look, with lingerie-inspired bodices over nude organza and tulle, combined with sensual open-front skirts and light capes. For the cocktail dresses, it is reinvented classic elegance with sculptural creations outlining the female figure and interesting prints. Eye-catching low backs and high-low skirts give the gowns more sophistication and versatility.”

Managing director Valerie Villar-Zayco explained,“ We only carry each style of gown in one color and style. This way, chances are slim that a client will run into someone wearing the same outfit. Cocktail gowns come in petite to generous sizes and our experienced seamstresses can alter them in-store.”

I agree about their dressmakers’ expertise in making a gown fit properly because when I found a beautiful orange jersey chiffon gown with a very low-cut bodice that was too daring to wear, they efficiently provided a matching fabric to heighten the neckline and did minor adjustments that never detracted from the original gown’s designs. They can even tweak a gown by adding exquisite lace inserts or additional embellishments if requested.

Sofia Zobel-Elizalde, Carole Tagle

Brides-to-be who instantly want to see what will suit them can pass by the boutiques in The Residences in Greenbelt, Makati and S Maison, Conrad Hotel. Cocktail outfits start at P30,000 to a couture bridal gown at P200,000, with most bridal dresses in the P80,000-P130,000 range. Quite reasonable, especially if one factors in the time and effort in getting exactly what one wants to wear for a very special occasion — without unhappy surprises — as Rosa Clara is known for quality bridal/formal wear that is flattering, elegant and stylish, all hallmarks of a fashion classic. 

Clients can also look through an e-book that contains over 100 gowns from the Rosa Clara Bridal and Cocktail collections. Special orders usually take five to six months for the garment to arrive from Barcelona. “For the bridal gowns, everything in the store is technically a sample. However, these samples can be purchased and adjusted if the bride cannot wait for a new gown to arrive,” Zayco explained.

Marilu Batchelor, Junie Pen?a

The Rosa Clara collection is staged once a year during Barcelona’s Bridal Week which was last month. Unlike regular fashion shows, there are no spring/summer or fall/winter presentations.