Celebrating a decade and beyond of great work, this year’s charity fashion event was a night to remember with its premier live auction and sensational runway shows of acclaimed designers.
After 10 successful charity fashion events, it was only befitting that the Red Charity Gala gathered 10 esteemed designers of the past galas for this year’s affair. Influential people and honored guests flocked to Shangri-la Fort’s Grand Ballroom to witness the festivities of the night. From the premier live auction to the enthralling fashion show, this year’s gala was historical and unforgettable.
RELATED READS: Staging The Most Successful Fashion Charity Event: The Red Charity Gala
A night of glamour
At cocktails, guests had their photos taken at the enchanting Lifestyle Asia booth of gold brought to life by Gideon Hermosa. Golden walls, an assemblage of clear candelabras, and rustic leaves made up the captivating vignette, allowing the guests to bask in a luxurious set-up. Others opted for the immaculate white booth of Moss Manila and Cindy Fernandez filled with lush white blooms and flanked by past works of the featured designers.
When the night’s affairs began, guests caught a glimpse of Lifestyle Asia’s muses for the upcoming November edition of the magazine. The 10 highly-acclaimed designers dressed the muses in their finest creations, stunning everyone with their creativity and signature style. From the opening acts alone, guests knew they were about to witness different spectacles throughout the night.
RELATED READS: 5 Things To Bid For At This Year’s Red Charity Gala Auction
Bidding for luxury
Every year, the Red Charity Gala hosts a live auction where proceeds go to its beneficiaries like the Red Cross. This year, Tim Yap and Tessa Prieto-Valdes escalated the anticipation by introducing the luxurious items that were up for grabs. Among those auctioned were a Jewelmer necklace made of fine champagne pearls. Though its initial value was $15,000, Mel Aguilar bought it for PHP 1.3 million, making it the highest winning bid of the night. Other auctioned items were a nine-night safari trip to Africa with a two-night stay at Deluxe Garden Lodge sold for PHP 1.2 million. One special auctioned item was a Royal Muse jewelry, a collaboration between Heart Ongpauco-Escudero and Royal Gem. Heart personally signed the jewelry, turning it to true limited edition items.
A runway sensation
The most-awaited fashion show satiated the appetite of the guests for sensational style creations. Dennis Lustico, Furne One, Michael Cinco, Cary Santiago, Ezra Santos, Jojie Lloren, Lesley Mobo, Chito Vijandre, Joey Samson, and Rajo Laurel brought their unforgettable pieces to the catwalk. It seemed time came to a standstill at the beginning of each show and yet it ended with a roar of applause. From complex embroidery and mixing of patterns and fabrics to the dramatic silhouettes and designs, each collection was simply breathtaking. With their points-of-view and personal stories linked with their design aesthetic, it truly was a show of all shows. This year’s runway shows will definitely be the talk among society’s mavens and style enthusiasts for long. Imagine having the best of Filipino fashion at one point of convergence? There is no other way to describe it but surreal.
The gala ended with all ten designers walking down the runway, joined by the Red Charity Gala’s co-chairs Kaye Tinga and Tessa Prieto-Valdes, extending thanks for the support. Even with the night’s festivities winding down to a calm settle, the legacy of the biggest charity fashion event remains and continues, bringing with it an air of anticipation for next year’s iteration.
Scroll below to see more photos of the Red Charity Gala 2019.
Photos by Kieran Punay, Floyd Jhocson, and Reuven Saga.
