I'm not just talking about spending for plane tickets, though--which is already a given. And mind you, the flights don't come cheap since the changes in test schedules can be both abrupt and unexpected. I've had batch mates working abroad who needed to rebook flights just to accommodate the exam schedules and everyone knows that those elusive promo fares pop up months before your desired travel date.
It wasn't until the Orals when I realized that the other item that requires you to dig deep into your pockets is your outfit for the Formal Dinner. The Formal Dinner is the finale of the entire FSOE. This happens on the third day of the Orals and is coupled with the Public Speaking Exam. I swear I've never felt more nervous in my entire life. I was so nervous my knees were shaking involuntarily and I could feel a cough trying to crawl up my throat.
Anyway, the Formal Dinner has a particular dress code. The gents are required to wear either a coat and tie or the classic barong tagalog. The women, on the other hand, can either choose between an evening gown or a Filipiniana.
Almost all of the ladies in our batch donned resplendent Filipinianas. I chose an evening gown though for the reason that I was pressed for time and I was seriously scrimping. In fact, I opted to take care of my own make-up, and I opted for a hairdresser who can help me whip up a classic chignon for only Php 300--quite a steal, considering I was staying in Makati at that time.
This post is for the ladies who have all plans of scrimping their budget for the Formal Dinner getup without having to sacrifice quality. A few designers here and there might get iffy about this little cheat sheet but what the hey? Every girl needs to know how to dress to impress without busting her bank account--especially if it's only a one time event.
If you're the type who wants to wear a classic Filipiniana without borrowing one from a friend or spending more than Php 5000 to buy a new one, the secret is no secret at all. I realized this little cheat when I was placed in a situation that required me to come in a Filipiniana for an event that was about to take place roughly a week after I had received the invite.
What I basically did was to pick out one of my read-made long gowns (something I purchased on a discount at a mall in Cebu) and had my designer friend, Josip, transform it into a Filipiniana by simply adding Filipiniana sleeves that perfectly matched the original evening gown. This only cost me less than a thousand pesos for everything from the materials to the labor. The great thing about this was that I wasn't only able to save big bucks from having a brand new Filipiniana sewn for a one-time event, I was also able to recycle a gown I had only really worn twice since the day I bought it.
So if you really want to don a Filipiniana for the Formal Dinner without breaking the piggy bank, you can simply grab a nice RTW gown (make sure it looks decent and respectable enough) from your favorite boutique or department store and simply have the classic Filipiniana sleeves sewn on them. The best type of gown for this transformation are the spaghetti-strapped or the strapless gowns. This gives your designer or seamstress enough room to give your gown a new lease on life. There are several gowns that cost less than Php 3000. I even tried picking up a very elegant one for only Php 800. Sleeves can cost you anywhere between Php 300-600. Just make sure you pick someone who knows how to make and attach those beautiful sleeves.
The moral of the story is that a little creativity can go a long way.
No comments:
Post a Comment