2023: The Year’s Best Dressed Ladies

Beautypreneur Ph | 2023: The Year’s Best Dressed Ladies | Daily Tribune – For months, I had been mulling over creating and sharing my list of the Best-dressed ladies in our country, but it took time to finally come up with an even more difficult list – who should I ask to nominate them?

Just as many claim to know society, and as many numbers of pretenders to the throne vacated by Maurice Arcache and George Sison, indeed hard acts to follow, there too are a number who feel they are most qualified to name who the best dressed are.

What exactly is a best-dressed woman? I would not dare define her as I admit it takes a keen eye, a continuing presence in the right circles, and knowledge of the upper crust from one’s early years to be able to share one’s choices, or if one came into prominence and high exposure and made it through hard work and persistence, one who is accepted and admired because they add to the sheen of the smart set and who are themselves recognized for their contributions to the lifestyle sector. Taste is of course very important, and not everyone has good taste, to be blunt about it. It also matters to have seen a lot not just here but in various circles and various parts, and finally, our “judges,” if they may be termed as such, should be fair, astute, and practitioners of the good life.

Allow me then to introduce to you a lady and two gentlemen who graciously accepted my request for them to name their choices of our country’s best-dressed ladies. 

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Frannie Jacinto is a society columnist who is to the manor born, being an Aguinaldo whose family owned the uppity pre-war department store, Aguinaldo’s. She was a Karilagan model in her younger days and, today, she hosts get-togethers of fellow Karilagan members in her beautiful home in Urdaneta Village. She is the better half of Philippine Rock and Roll icon RJ Jacinto, an entrepreneur and presidential adviser in various political administrations.

Toto Gonzalez is our ultimate social arbiter whose best-read blog Remembrance of Things Gone Awry, remains the number one bible of high society, easily one of the best of the genre of power and privilege writing in the Philippines. For all his protestations about his blog being irrelevant to the times, Toto’s collective work is a gem to researchers specializing in the Philippine upper class. Toto today writes about the treasures lapped up by collectors and art patrons in the auctions organized by Leon Gallery.

Finally, Rupert Jacinto is the Photographer of the Faaabvlous, having photographed the country’s crème de la crème, international royalty, and the jet sets of New York, Paris, London, and Madrid. His portraits occupy the place of honor in the country’s mansions and penthouses on Fifth Avenue in New York and Avenue Foch in Paris. Among his subjects in his early days were the legendary women of the era, among them Meldy Cojuangco, Paz Yuchengco, Prissy Sison, Chona Kasten, Elvira Manahan and Tingting Cojuangco, the last, a living icon who herself has created the much respected Tingting’s Elegant List.

Frannie Jacinto’s Choices

“My list comprises women who don’t try hard. It’s an effortless look for them to dress well no matter what occasion.

“Some are under-dressed yet are well dressed with the way they carry themselves – a total look.

“Many good-looking ladies who spend a lot are not necessarily the best dressed. They overdress and the saying “pinaglaruan ng designer” is most evident in the way they dress up.

“Many matrons look the same- Kardashian style. Not realizing it’s not flattering; it’s tacky. They like to look like each other- no individuality.

“I don’t believe in having stylists dress you, either. That means it’s their style and look, not yours.”

Marivic Vazquez: With her trim figure, she can wear anything and look great — from a beautiful vintage Filipiniana by Patis or a ball gown by the late Ito Curata to a French lace pants outfit that she found in one of her many travels or a casual t-shirt, jeans and sneakers.

Lulu TanGan: She can carry hip and youthful looks as a seniorella with her reed-thin figure; combines her modern LTG Filipiniana designs with au courant outfits (even short, shorts); always minimally made up; still so youthful looking without having that “trying hard” look.

Ana de Ocampo Lorenzana: Hardworking and always on the go;  looks perfectly attired in her understated yet refined way for every occasion (work, play or in elegant socials).

Marilu Batchelor: Charming and sultry looking,  she  always dresses well no matter what the occasion is.

Cindy Yang: She can carry all looks – from young and hip to elegant clothes with her lithe figure. Even when she is walking her dogs in the park, she looks very stylish. She knows what styles fit her.

Bettina Osmeña: Her simple and understated style shows off her slim figure; Often seen wearing Philippine fashion by young designers including those made by her daughter, budding designer Dani Osmeña.

Lizzie Zobel: Whether dressed down or up, she is perfectly attired. She sparkles in her simple elegance.

Toto Gonzalez’s Roster

“I admire the ladies who take the time and effort to dress very well consistently because I know the serious work it entails.  And yet, they must make it seem effortless, which they do.  That’s real style.

“Remember what Diana Vreeland declared:  “Money is vital!!!”

Irene Romualdez Marcos-Araneta: She epitomizes faultless elegance.   She is respected for her unerring behavior.  Her dress sense is perfect.  Whatever she wears is perfect for the occasion.  According to her mother, Madame Imelda Romualdez-Marcos, she was sent to a school where princesses and aristocratic women were educated.  Of course, it shows.  And how.

“Marivic Madrigal Vazquez:  Marivic is an heiress in the true sense of the word.  Also a formidable businesswoman.  A dramatic life to match.   Like her Madrigal mother and aunts, she has that casual, effortless, throwaway attitude seen in the legendary heiresses and hostesses Marella Caracciolo (Agnelli), Doris Duke, Eugenie and Athina Livanos and Christina Onassis.  She dresses for herself, not to impress at all, and yet she is invariably the sybaritic cynosure in society gatherings.   In the tradition of her mother Maria Luisa Paterno Madrigal-Vazquez (“Ising”) and aunt Consuelo Alejandra Paterno Madrigal (“Chito”) Collantes.  Marivic possesses fabulous high jewelry and does not hesitate to wear them.  One remembers a time when she was swimming amidst a WWII shipwreck in Coron, Palawan, casually wearing a pair of very considerable earrings.

Frannie Osorio Aguinaldo-Jacinto:  Frannie is a former model who has kept her face and figure.  Daytime ensembles and evening gowns fall flawlessly from her statuesque figure.  She has a timeless sense of style and can effortlessly mix and match pieces from all the fashion greats.     

Few people know that Frannie is the 4th generation in a long line of rich society beauties — her mother Mrs Natividad del Rosario Osorio-Aguinaldo, her grandmother Dona Dolores del Rosario de Osorio (Mrs Leonardo Osorio, wife of the Governor of Cavite), her great-grandmother Dona Mariquita del Rosario, a beautiful and artistically accomplished Spanish lady who was the toast of Manila society in the early 1890s as her husband Don Sabas del Rosario was the BFF of the Spanish Capitan-General Don Eulogio Despujol.

Lisa Hidalgo Tinio-Bayot:  The petite, reed thin, and elegantly dressed Lisa is a discreet and important presence in Manila social gatherings.  Inclined to philanthropic work, Lisa exudes an understated, expensive elegance. She is perfectly dressed for every occasion. Lisa is married to Francisco Madrigal Bayot (“Jun”).  She is the daughter of businessman Vivencio Tinio and heiress Lourdes Tiaoqui Hidalgo.  The Tinios were Nueva Ecija’s biggest landowners in the 1800s. The Hidalgos are descended from Dona Saturnina Rizal de Hidalgo, eldest sister of National Hero Dr. Jose P. Rizal. The Tiaoquis are descended from the Filipina wife of the early taipan Don Enrique Yu Cheng Co, who owned stretches of properties in mercantile Binondo; his daughter Dona Aurora Tiaoqui (“Dona Oyang”) was a formidable lady. Francisco Madrigal Bayot (“Jun”) is the son of handsome businessman Francisco Bayot and heiress Josefina Paterno Madrigal (“Pinang”), reputedly the most beautiful of the five Madrigal-Paterno sisters.

Hetty Que:  The forever youthful and sylph-like Hetty Que (Mrs Paulino Que)  is the grande dame of the city’s most important old master and contemporary art and antique collection and is the dazzling centerpiece of every important Manila art world gathering. Whether in Avenue Montaigne haute couture or casuals, Hetty consistently exudes an expensive, patrician Oriental elegance. One breathtakingly remembers a landmark art gala when Hetty appeared in a painfully exquisite French haute couture celadon green silk gown with a suite of Chinese imperial jade;  nothing in the “Crazy Rich Asians” movie could come up to par.  Hetty is also the frame from where the couple’s extremely important Filipino antique jewelry collection makes its rarefied appearances.  For a good friend, the enduring memory of Hetty Que is the young and beautiful Gabrielle Anwar character dancing the tango with Al Pacino in the classic movie “Scent of a Woman.”

Mimi Que:  Mrs Mario Que is one of the sharpest and chicest of the city’s most fashionable ladies.  She dresses young with the hottest designers from New York, Paris, and London.  She is the rock star princess among Manila’s most fashionable.  None of the matronly stuff for her.  She makes the Kardashians look poor.

Duday Tuason:  The uber-chic Duday Tuason has a truly cosmopolitan sense of style that rises above the Manila humdrum.  High style oozes from Duday’s pores.  In essence, she is more New York, Paris, and London.  She gives the most beautiful couture dresses the luxury of the everyday.  Not only does Duday dress beautifully and glamorously, but she lives it as well in her elegant home and her active social life.

Linda Ley: A frequent Rustan’s shopper, she has one of the city’s sharpest fashion senses. A gazelle, long and lean like Princess Diana, Linda has the nose for the next big thing in fashion.  She is always, always up to the minute fashion-wise and one only has to see Linda to know what is the latest.

Erica Concepcion-Reyes:  She is the source for the most beautiful vintage and antique jewelry, but that is only an outcrop of Erica’s inherent love for elegance and refinement as seen in her dress sense.  She has a preference for couture — for beautiful fabrics, well-fitted constructions, and tasteful embellishments.  Lovely shoes and bags.  The viscerally elegant Erica is a granddaughter of industrialist Jose Santos Concepcion (“JoeCon”) and heiress Maria Victoria Lopez Araneta (“Marivic”). Victoria Lopez-Araneta was a prominent socialite of prewar Manila and was famous for her fashion sense and glamorous parties.

Nicole Whisenhunt:  The young jeweler Nicole Whisenhunt dresses beautifully as she leads a life from one world capital to the next. She is beautifully turned out whether in the city, in the countryside, or by the sea.  Even her contemporaries — the city’s rich, young, and glam set — agree that Nicole W is one of the most stylish ladies around, not only for her dress sense but in the way she actually lives every day.

Special mentions:

• Vogue PHL EIC Bea Panlilio Valdes
• Paris-based model Kifu Augousti (daughter of Ria Montinola Macasaet-Augousti)
• Socialite Nona Sarmiento Panlilio
• Socialite Victoria Sarmiento Panlilio (formerly Mrs Antonio Medina Claparols)
• Interior designer Melot Sunga

Rupert Jacinto’s List

“A Best Dressed person is one whose clothes define/enhance her body frame, her movement, her poise, her personality; she wears the clothes and not let the clothes wear her.

“In yesteryears, these would easily be Imelda Cojuangco, Baby Fores, Elvira Manahan,  Chona Kasten, Tina Jacinto; all of whom I have photographed.

“In today’s social scene, easily the standouts are Linda Ley and Joy Rustia.

“Foremost  of the distinguishing marks of a best dressed person, to me,  are simplicity and elegance. Her dress or gown is meant to enhance her looks and not overpower her. My criteria is based more on seeing them in formal occasions.

“I have photographed all 10 ladies and my choices are: (and not in any particular order)

Linda Ley: She is always impeccable, stylish and sophisticated in every function

Joy Rustia: She exudes simplicity, yet she is always a stand-out

Josie Natori:  I admire her for her elegance, simplicity and wearability.

Heart Evangelista:  She glides with her clothes beautifully

Lilibeth Campos:  She knows what makes her glam and succeeds

Ching Cruz: For her classic elegance

Nikki Tang:  Exceptional fashion choices; Avant garde in her approach

Mela Bengzon: Impressive for her understated elegance and timeless style.

Eimee Cragun:  Her glamorous gowns are truly glam, befitting her frame

Buena Sarmiento:  Basing it on my Faaabvlous portraits, hers is the perfect example   of clothes enhancing one’s figure and looks.