Oliver Tolentino dresses Gwendoline Ruais for Miss World

07 Nov '11

4 min read

Gwendoline Ruais became the highest Miss Philippines to rank in 37 years when she was named "1st Runner Up" (Miss Venezuela won). Gwen wore a red flowy chiffon Oliver Tolentino gown with a slit in the leg that was made expressly for her for the pageant.

The gown had a bodice beaded with red Swarovski crystals and a nude skin back. This was a personal honor for Oliver because it's the first time a Filipino designer has been allowed to create clothes in many decades under new country manager Cory Quirino.

Coincidentally, the first "1st Runner Up" 37 years ago was Evangeline Pascual who hails from Orani, Bataan. Oliver, also from Orani, is a distant cousin of Ms. Pascual.

For the pageant, Gwen also wore an Oliver Tolentino pina & abaca modern terno for the national costume portion of the TV show. In addition, Gwen was photographed in about a dozen of Oliver's outfits while she was in London.

She wore Oliver's dyed-blue pina skirt and blouse outfit to depart Manila and arrive in London, a silver sequined long gown when contestants were photographed along the Thames River, a green chiffon for the first charity event, and a raw silk cocoon cocktail dress at another event, among others.

Oliver somehow found time to make Gwen's outfits before returning to Los Angeles from Manila where he was honored as the Samsung 2011 MetroWear Icon of the Philippines by Metro & Metro Society magazines, in conjunction with the ABS-CBN TV network, last October 24.

As the MetroWear Icon, Tolentino presented a 75+-piece collection at the Sofitel Hotel Harbor Tent in a solo gala attended by the rich and famous of Manila society. Oliver chose charities Bantay Bata and Sagip Kapamilya to benefit from the invitation-only event. Ironically for Oliver, a designer from Bataan province who now dresses celebrities in Hollywood, this was his first gala in Manila.

Spotted at the show were former First Lady Imelda Marcos, the Princess of Brunei, actor Sam Milby, and members of the Lopez, Henry Sy, Lucio Tan, Pangilinan,and Tantoco families. Celebrity walkers included Tessa Prieto-Valdes, Venus Raj, Jake Cuenca, Pinky de Leon, Joan Bitigco, Marina Benipayo, Ria Salgado, Tutay Maristela, Empress Shuck, Divine Lee, Megan Young, Victor Basa, members of the Azkals football team, and a once-in-a-lifetime walk by Kuh Ledesma.

Ambassadors for the event were Kaye Tinga, Audrey Tan-Zubiri, Bettina Osmena, and Raul Manzano. Oliver's muses for the evening were Tessa and Kuh. Director Joaquin Valdes created an artistic short film to get the crowd in the theme for Old Hollywood. The film was preceded by a quote of Oliver's which read: "I had to leave in order to come home."

Oliver challenged himself in the collection by excluding the colors black, white, and red from his female pieces. Director Robby Carmona commented that it was his first show ever to close without black or white wedding gowns. Overhalf of the collection comprised native fabrics dyed in vibrant colors, most accentuated in great detail with hand cut-outs, rosettes, and beadings. Oliver offered evening gowns, cocktail dresses, ready-to-wear pants, and uniquely cut men's barongs. His collection received a standing ovation.

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