The Opulence Ball 2024 brought back the disco fashion of the 1970s. Here are the icons from that era that attendees referenced
Held at The Manila Peninsula, The Opulence Ball 2024 drew the biggest names in fashion to show off their one-night-only transformations in a lavish celebration. At this year’s edition, the decade is 1970, the dance floor is packed, the era of disco is in full swing. In celebration of the groovy decade, celebrities debuted looks that paid homage to the names that defined disco.
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Maris Racal, Chie Filomeno, Pam Prinster, Alexie Brooks, Ruffa Gutierrez, Aya Fernandez, and Barbie Imperial as Cher
A number of celebrities channeled the 70s Disco Diva and Goddess of Pop Cher, who has always been a fashion icon in a league of her own. Together with costume designer Bob Mackie, the pair made fashion magic for decades, shaping her career and the industry at large. Cher was fearless in donning Mackie’s groundbreaking designs, often featuring cut-out dresses, sheer fabrics, sequins, feathers, bold headpieces, and other experimental elements. Maris Racal sported the fringed silver dress Cher wore during her performance of Take Me Home in 1999—complete with the headpiece.
Chie Filomeno donned a custom Maison Soriano, meanwhile, going for Cher’s iconic belly-baring halter ensembles for The Cher Show in 1975.
As for Pam Prinster, she took sartorial notes from Cher’s Hell on Wheels track cover with the platinum blue unitard with criss-cross cuts going down the bodice, paired with metallic boots.
Miss Universe Iloilo Alexie Brooks turned heads in a silver cutout gown reminiscent of the musician’s portrait session during the The Sonny and Cher Show years. The fabric was covered in rhinestones and criss-crossed the star’s body in a series of seductive cutouts that showed off her toned torso.
Ruffa Gutierrez was draped in lush burgundy velvet made by Leo Almodal, a recreation of Cher’s Could I Be Dreaming look at the Celebration At Caesars in 1981.
Aya Fernandez also paid homage to the Goddess of Pop in her own interpretation of Cher’s winged-headpiece look for her 1979 TV special Cher…And Other Fantasies. The actress-host chose to feature her iconic wings on the straps of her sequined-adorned bralette instead, and paired it with silver pants and head scarf.
If Cher went to a party as a vampire, this would be the look. Barbie Imperial oozed with confidence in this blood-red piece by Fatima Beltran, exuding the allure associated with this particular genus of the nightly undead. Don’t look in her eyes for too long though, she might render you as spellbound as her victims.
Maymay Entrata as Bianca Jagger
One of the glamorous and grittiest moments captured at Studio 54, a celebrity hotspot and beacon of New York nightlife in the 70s, was model and style icon of the decade Bianca Jagger holding white doves in an off-the-shoulder lace dress in 1977. This was Maymay Entrata’s inspiration for her look—a wedding gown with doves perched on the fabric.
Lyn Alumno in a 1999 Jean Paul Gaultier-inspired dress
Celebrity stylist Lyn Alumno went down the archival route in THIAN Rodriguez. The ensemble referenced Jean Paul Gaultier’s Paris Fashion Week collection in 1999; it featured the designer’s play with shapes and metal.
Boom Sason as Diana Ross
Diana Ross was in her heyday in 1970, and designer Boom Sason embodied that. The musical legend’s legacy spans multiple mediums, from chart-topping albums to Oscar-nominated films. Through it all, she’s never failed to make a style statement, flaunting sequined dresses, beaded catsuits, and glamorous gowns. Boom Sason recreated Diana Ross’s look for her 2000 performance at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, donning a jet-black mermaid gown bejeweled with sequins and the big curls.
Photographed by EXCEL PANLAQUE; Photos from BOOM SASON (via Instagram)
