Anne Curtis, Julia Barretto, Kylie Verzosa, and more celebrities give us a sneak peek into the world of Opulence.
This year, the Opulence Ball 2023 takes us to the pages of Greek mythology and folklore for a night where our legends come to life. And indeed, they do, in the form of some of the country’s stars in fashion, music, pageantry, and show business. Who would have thought that Anne Curtis, who once played a tripartite goddess, would reprise her role? But this time, as a goddess of both lightness and darkness.
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After their 18th century Marie Antoinette-inspired gathering in 2019, host and organizer Mond Gutierrez transports us further back into time. Just like in ancient Greek period wherein gods and goddesses are believed to be in the midst of mortals, we find ourselves enthralled by the transformation of these celebrities into mythological creatures and historical figures. Behold, the pantheon of the star-studded Opulence.
The sea goddess
Luring us into the power of the waters, Kylie Verzosa took on the form of a sea goddess in her pearl beaded swimsuit dress with shell elements designed by Bonita Penaranda. Although the said figure remains to be unnamed, we envision Kylie as Thetis, the sea nymph and mother of Achilles. Why not? She definitely “mothered” in this shoot!
The underworld queen
After breathing life to a number of strong willed characters in her list of roles, Julia Barretto played Persephone on the teaser for Opulence. As the underworld goddess whose appearance springs life to the land, this nurturing part of Persephone’s story was reflected by the gold breastplate designed by Penaranda as well.
The fallen angel
From her Sleeping Beauty and fairy queen crossover in 2019, Solenn Heussaff transformed this time into a fringed fallen angel for the upcoming Halloween bash. Just like her dual costume years ago, her winged headdress could also symbolize the Greek messenger Hermes.
The historical heroine
Sarah Lahbati also joined the pool of iconic individuals as Joan of Arc, the French saint and heroine. Giving a modern iteration to the armor worn by the military leader, Bonita created a crystal-encrusted breastplate with a cropped, asymmetrical hemline. Halloween is definitely a time to marry fashion and history, as well as blur the lines of reality and fantasy.
The goddess ruler
Circling us back to this year’s theme, Anne Curtis relives her time as the Dyosa with two sides—the light and the dark. In a series of photos shared by Rajo Laurel, the actress wore a hooded piece from the designer that showcased her curves. The pleating and form-hugging silhouette could be comparable to the intricate statues from the ancient period, where the body lines were nailed by sculptors.
Photos: BONITA PENARANDA and RAJO LAUREL (via Instagram)
