From bold ensembles down to daring spins on timeless looks, the GMA Gala boasted an impressive set of best-dressed attendees this year
The GMA Gala 2023 kicked off at the Manila Marriott Hotel in Pasay City on Saturday, July 22. The gala saw rising stars and big names alike arrive in their best formal garb. Attendees were asked to follow the theme “elegant formal,” and sure enough, they delivered.
Here are our picks for the gala’s best-dressed guests:
1. Marian Rivera
Styled by Melville Sy, Marian Rivera’s pleated silk dress made her look nothing short of a goddess. The simple yet sophisticated dress was adorned with flowers on the straps down to its lengthy tulle trail. To pull the whole look together, Rivera sported a timeless wavy hairstyle care of hair artist Nante Alingasa.
2. Barbie Forteza
This Barbie came dressed to impress. Barbie Forteza donned an elegant custom mint ball gown by Ehrran Montoya. Kapamilya actor Joshua Garcia even named the ‘Maria Clara at Ibarra’ leading lady the best-dressed star of the night.
3. Gabbi Garcia
Thanks to stylist Martin Bautista, Gabbi Garcia’s layered frock was hard to miss. While her nude bandeau and plain silk skirt already looked elegant as they were, the ‘Unbreak My Heart’ actress elevated her simple look even further with an unlikely fusion of two different styles. Over her silk bottoms, she wore a tiered skirt reminiscent of the roaring ’20s, while she transformed her bandeau with an overlay embellished with fresh pearls—a nod to the sirens of Greek mythology.
4. Anne Curtis
With the gala being her first-ever formal event as both a Kapuso and a Kapamilya, Anne Curtis made sure to leave a lasting impression. The ‘It’s Showtime’ mainstay wore a simple white Yves Saint Laurent gown accentuated with classic Tiffany and Co. jewelry. Above all, however, Curtis was a spitting image of Audrey Hepburn as she pulled off the late actress’ iconic hairstyle.
5. Rain Matienzo
Styled by Mika Reyes, TikTok star-turned-GMA actress Rain Matienzo shone with her bejeweled fishnet gown. The detail that went into the creation of Matienzo’s look is admirable. The long lines of crystals hanging off the side of the dress perfected the illusion that Matienzo had just gotten out of the ocean. Even the way the dress hits the floor successfully mimics a puddle of water. It’s safe to say that Matienzo definitely lived her mermaid fantasy that night.
6. Michelle Dee
Michelle Dee wore an eye-catching Mark Bumgarner ensemble to represent “power, class, and elegance.” The current Miss Universe Philippines titleholder contrasted her gold two-piece attire with silver Triple Drop earrings from Tiffany and Co. and rings from Bulgari.
7. Matteo Guidicelli
While not many men can rock a velvet tuxedo, Matteo Guidicelli is the clear exception. Styled by David Milan, the Filipino-Italian actor arrived at the gala in an emerald green William Lee tuxedo, topped off with a black cummerbund to achieve a seamless look.
8. Alden Richards
Alden Richards’ suit definitely stood out among the rest. Foregoing the classic tuxedo look many of the gala’s male attendees opted for, Richards showed up in a white Louis Vuitton jacket suit with a floral silver brooch and a sleek Patek Philippe watch.