Rica Peralejo`s gown by Rajo Laurel

12Feb2010 Filed under: Bridal Beauty & Fashion, In The News, Rica Peralejo, celebrity weddings Author: Marbee

Rica Peralejo`s wedding gown designer Rajo Laurel landed on the cover of Women`s Wear Daily last February 10,2010 with his “slinky body-con dress… wrapped in a cobweb of shredded silk jersey.”

If it looks familiar, it`s because it`s the same process Rajo used for Rica`s wedding gown`s cobweb overlay…

WE did a little Q & A with designer Rajo Laurel, who recently collaborated with F&C Jewelry for an interesting weddings-related project (which you will see here soon)

WE: How did you come up with Rica’s wedding gown design?
RL: I did Rica’s debut. So I actually had this played already, what she wanted. That particular history makes it easier for me to understand what she’s looking for in terms of the wedding dress. So, I knew exactly what she wanted when she texted, “Rajo I wanted something barefoot.” What I meant was she wanted a barefoot wedding. She wanted it easy, not fussy, but at the same time different. In fact I was very surprised that she agreed to wear my cobweb piece, which as you know landed on the cover of WWD (Women’s Wear Daily). Not the same thing though, but it’s the same process.

`When I brought to the table the idea of the deconstructed overlay, she said, “Yes, yes, yes! I really love it.” So natuwa ako kasi not all brides would want something like that for their wedding dress. I was so intrigued by the fact that she likes that idea. So from there it was just easy. I wanted something covered for the ceremony, something open for the reception.

The whole concept was really all about a very beautiful lady that got ship-wrecked on a deserted island. So, that’s parang a fantasy, a fantasy that we created for her, like nothing was sort of like too precious. We used sort of like rough edges on the hem, frayed and deconstructed an overlay and used mother-of-pearl beads.

Everything was connected to something from the sea. Something that was beautiful, but at the same time relaxed.

WE: How about the materials used?

RL:The overlay is made from silk jersey, which we shredded. The base dress is actually made from silk chiffon and then it is beaded with mother-of-pearl shells, capiz and crystal beads. It has a belt that is seamed back with Swarovski crystals

WE: Aside from the concept and inspiration, what other things did you take into consideration?

RL: We wanted something that is essentially transformable. Something that we can change into a party dress after. We also wanted something very modest. You know Rica has a very strong Christian faith. She didn’t want something to be overtly sexy. ‘Yung very simple lang, minimal lang. Ayaw nya masyadong sexy.