This is one of my favorite gowns made by Amir Sali.
I first met fashion designer Amir Sali 15 years ago when I was looking for someone to make me a gown for my silver wedding anniversary. I wanted someone new or young, not the established and more traditional couturiers.
One afternoon, I chanced upon a short description of him in a magazine article. It caught my attention, so I clipped the short feature and forgot about it. I continued my search and I visited some ateliers such as the House of Laurel by Philippine fashion icon Rajo Laurel, Francis Libiran, Mich Dulce, Oliver Tolentino, to name a few.
After that, I contacted Amir and a month later, I found myself in his workshop in Brookside Hills, Cainta Rizal, admiring his beadworks. Perfect timing because he was leaving for Dubai, Paris and Italy, to buy fabrics and accessories. I learned that he also did beadworks, designs, and supplied materials to known designers.
He did the beadworks on actress / beauty queen / famous celebrity Ruffa Gutierrez’s wedding gown when she got married here in the Philippines to Yilmaz Bektas. He also put some of his magic on Korina Sanchez’s modern Filipiniana wedding gown when she married former senator Mar Roxas. Korina is a very successful television personality.
Two years ago, I was asked by a family friend and my lawyer too, Atty. Leo Anonuevo to be his ninang sa kasal. Nakaw!!!!. I said no kasi nga ayaw ko ever since. I have never said yes to any couple and to many people’s surprise, I have zero inaanak sa kasal. A lot of people believe that a person is not allowed to say no. One cannot refuse when asked. Except me. I couldn’t understand why it would be wrong to say no. Saying yes is a violation of my human rights. I will get depressed because mali man or tama, basta ayaw ko nga.
When I couldn’t say no, I volunteered my husband and 100% of the time, it worked. Not this time. Kailangan daw ako, kasi Edmund is male. Ninong, hindi sya ninang. Leo’s wedding was postponed or there was no definite date yet. I felt relieved thinking hay salamat, nalimutan na nila ako. They have forgotten about me. Sana, kumpleto na line-up nila ng weddig sp0nsors without my name.
Then one day, bammmmm! Eto na, tuloy pala ang kasal. Leo and his girlfriend of 12 years, Kat, came over and gave me a nicely wrapped gift. Akala ko binibigyan ako ng regalo. Yun pala mga tela. They brought the fabrics for their wedding. Hayan na, how could I say no? I would be so ruthless and rude.
Before leaving for the US on February 23, 2025, I went to Amir Sali on February 2 to give him the fabrics with instructions from the bride and groom as to which fabric goes where. Lining, tapos ibabaw, tapos yung softest fabric sa outer. The colors were not my usual colors. It would be a rare occasion to see me wearing brown. Eh perfect, kasi this is a rare occasion , me as ninang sa kasal.
Leading to the event, I grew more agitated. I wanted my daughter to be my proxy, eh hindi daw pwede kasi medyo odd, and she’s pregnant, bawal maging ninang pag buntis. Ninang sa binyag lalo na.
After I came back from the US, I met with Amir so he could design my dress. Ang galing nyang mag drawing. Lahat yata ng mga fashion designers magaling mag drawing. Because of my busy schedule, I fitted the underdress just three weeks before the wedding. Medyo they also ran out of time.
After I realized naku po, one week na lang before the wedding, I contacted Amir’s assistant. Ang sabi nya “Mam, okay na daw po, pwede nyo ng kunin yung dress sa Wednesday”. I replied “ay perfect yan, tapos na ang wedding sa Myerkoles.”
Dali-dali nila tinapos yung gown ko. They worked overtime to finish my dress in a few days. Napuyat siguro si Amir. And finally I got my gown on Saturday afternoon. The best thing about Amir and his team, walang repair. Pagsukat, eksakto lagi. Ang sabi lang sa akin ni Indiana, “Mam, lumaki ka na lang talaga ngayon.” A very diplomatic way of saying tumaba na ako talaga. Plus 10 inches ang bewang.
Syempre mas bagay ito sa mapayat.
(Music by Natalie Cole, LOVE)
This dress feels so comfortable, para akong naka daster, kasi maluwag. No need to stomach in.
This dress will look a million times more stunning on a svelte body.
I am sure many will be inspired to troop down to Amir Sali’s atelier to order a similar dress. Okay lang kopyahin basta please remember my two rules: 1. Huwag brown para iba naman, 2. Make sure we don’t attend the same party at the same time otherwise mapagkamalan tayong kakanta, back-up singers ng Glady’s Knight and the Pips.
My sincere appreciation to Amir Sali and his fantastic team led by Indiana for this fabulous dress. Not only does it hide my big stomach that is full of pasta and rice, this dress is so comfortable I can wear it all day and all night. Thank you my dear Amir. This is one of my favorite gowns ever. Considering that I was never a fan of the color brown, this turned out to be lovely.
From now on, brown please!
