If your wardrobe is in need of a fresh update, look to Rabiya Mateo who embodied the vibrant and uplifting shade of orange in her final pre-pageant looks.
Related: Miss Universe Style Radar PH: Rabiya Mateo Stuns In A Modern Hablon Gown
Unafraid to make a bold statement, our Miss Universe Philippines has mastered the art of taking the color plunge in fashion. From shades of rich blues and vibrant pinks and yellows, it was all part of the plan to show how Rabiya Mateo comes to full bloom before she takes on the grand stage on May 16. As former Miss Universe Pia Wurtzbach once shared, the best advice she was given is “know when to peak” by 2011 Miss Universe 3rd runner-up Shamcey Supsup. “That means you just have to save your energy for the moments that really matter,” Wurtzbach said.
From the multitude of colors she was clad in and the different silhouettes that proved her versatility, it was “to allow Rabiya to have a little fun and grow as gears up for the biggest fight of her life,” says Team Rain x Em.
LOOK 011: Summer Crush
Style Trend To Crop: Halter Tops
One of the biggest fashion trends that emerged this summer is halter tops, thin straps with a modern twist to accentuate your décolletage. As shown here in Rabiya Mateo’s bodycon dress by Davao-based designer Neil Patrick Jimlani, incorporating this classic but ever so slightly risqué style into a simple silhouette can elevate any look.
“A woman is never defined by the dress she wears; she is defined by [the] purpose she holds, effortlessly emphasized by how she carries herself,” says Jimlani. Her clean top knot and statement diamond dangling earrings from LVNA By Drake Dustin also helped to make the case of the covetable neckline.
LOOK 012: Tropical Queen
Style Trend To Crop: Bishop Sleeves
More than a fleeting trend, puff sleeves have stuck around and continue to be a part of the season’s must-haves. From the runways that saw Simon Rocha’s romantic billowy sleeves and Loewe’s exaggerated padded shoulders, it’s been reimagined into so many iterations that are even bigger and bolder. Here, we see Mateo take the trend to greater heights with a silk draped gown that’s fit for a modern queen.
Another ensemble by well-known designer Martin Bautista, the choice of blood orange brought the right amount of warmth and vibrant energy into the gown. Not to mention, it made the beauty queen’s skin glow. “This look was created to celebrate a woman’s individuality,” says Bautista.
Check in daily with our “Miss Universe PH Style Radar” series for the latest on Rabiya Mateo’s looks.
