Preview Ball 2025: Our best-dressed celebrities

(From left) Pia Wurtzbach, Sassa Gurl, Mika Salamanca and Maja Salvador. Images: Instagram/@piajauncey, @mikslmnc, @florenz_hair, and Alan Segui

“Homegrown” is the theme of this year’s Preview Ball, where celebrities, designers, stylists and other notable personalities in the local fashion industry showcased their own take on the traditional Filipiniana.

The 2025 edition of the Preview Ball, held at the Marriott Hotel on Tuesday, Sept. 2, was a celebration of the fashion magazine’s 30th anniversary, spotlighting up-and-coming and renowned designers, stylists, celebrities and other creatives.

The gala also recognized this year’s Best Dressed personalities, who included Michelle Dee, Enchong Dee, Brent Manalo, Jasmine Curtis-Smith, Versex, Dom Canlas, Cyndi Fernandez-Beltran, Shar Cabigas, John Lozano and Maja Salvador. Pia Wurtzbach bagged the Style Icon plum.

The designers honored at the event were Antonina Amoncio, Axel Que, Jaggy Glarino, Kelvin Morales and Renz Reyes.

Take a look at the celebrities who caught our eye in the fashion-forward affair:

1. Maja Salvador

Maja Salvador. Image: Hair by Florenz

Maja Salvador was the star of the night in a champagne number by Bonita Penaranda and Randy Ortiz, paired with matching gold accessories. The off-shoulder number, featuring a corseted bodice and a skirt that pays homage to local textiles, was a sophisticated way of bridging Philippine tradition and modernity without going too far.

2. Sassa Gurl

Sassa Gurl. Image: Alan Segui

Sassa Gurl described her blush pink A.S.S.I.S.I number as a “suso” gown — literally and figuratively — that displays a political statement on how the country “addresses important issues at snail-like pace.” Apart from its strong message, the dress is a breathtaking sight in itself, with its snail shell-shaped patterns from the corseted top to its bodice.

3. Mimiyuuuh

Mimiyuuuh. Image: Dennis Sulit

Rocking a Carl Jan Cruz number, Mimiyuuuh departed from the usual two-piece Filipiniana in a scarf-like halter top and a matching fringe skirt in a blue-green wave-like pattern. The eye-catching look was paired with a white midi skirt and white platform heels, allowing its focal colors to stand out.

4. Maki

Maki. Image: Instagram/@clfrnia_maki

Maki channeled his inner “munting prinsipe” in a fairytale-inspired cream and light green suit by ḢA.MÜ, featuring engraved floral patterns from the shoulder pads to its matching pants. The singer-songwriter’s brown Coach bag, accented with charms, finished the maximalist look.

5. Michelle Dee

Michelle Dee. Image: Instagram/@michelledee

Showcasing the beauty of “homegrown” fashion, Michelle Dee was a stunner in her upcycled barong by Mark Bumgarner, with the piña fabric wrapped around her curves, showing a slight flash of skin with a see-through skintone dress. The beauty queen brought her look together with a bold red lip and silver and rose gold accessories.

6. Mika Salamanca

Mika Salamanca. Image: Paul Vincent Paredes II

Since many wore upcycled or modernized takes on traditional fashion, Mika Salamanca was one of the standouts, as she was reminiscent of a vintage film star in a Filipiniana by Job Dacon. The sophisticated gown has a structured silhouette, a wave-like pattern on the bodice, and a thigh-high slit, adding a touch of the current trends without straying too far from its classic appeal.

7. Pia Wurtzbach

Pia Wurtzbach. Image: Instagram/@piajauncey

As if she wasn’t already tall enough, Pia Wurtzbach looked 10 feet tall in her custom-made mariposa gown by Mark Bumarner. The breathtaking gown featured a skirt outlined with a black, petal-like pattern, giving the illusion of the beauty queen-turned-fashion personality looking like a massively tall sculpture.

8. Anne Curtis

Anne Curtis. Image: Nice Print Photography

Another out-of-the-box interpretation of the theme, Anne Curtis proved why she has been a decades-long fixture of the fashion magazine in a black custom-made piece by RJ Santos. The familiar tulle (a fabric often used to add drama in traditional Filipino wear) became the focal point of her black gown with embroidered stars and a makeshift “tattooed” angel on the back.

9. Brent Manalo

Brent Manalo. Image: Belg Belgica

Classic and refined, Brent Manalo looked like a prince in a cream barong-inspired tuxedo jacket and silk trousers by Koko Gonzales, paired with a gold pearl necklace by Jewelmer. While the ensemble was already sophisticated in itself, the way Manalo carried himself throughout the night made it even more luxurious.

10. Francine Diaz

Francine Diaz (right) with Seth Fedelin. Image: Nice Print Photography

Departing from her wholesome image completely, Francine Diaz fully embraced her womanly side in a black, tube number by Mark Bumgarner, with her curves peeking through its structured bodice. The look was paired with a bold red lip, drop earrings, and a whole lotta attitude by the actress. /ra