Filipino's gown vies for Oscars' red carpet glory

BEVERLY HILLS, Los Angeles — Alan del Rosario is hoping to make Oscar history as the first Filipino designer to win in the first ever “Oscars Designer Challenge" competition. “Vote Filipino!" exclaimed the boyish-looking del Rosario who happens to be a former civil engineer from the Philippines turned fashion designer here in LA. For the first time in Oscar history, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is inviting the public to vote on their favorite gown by an upcoming fashion designer. It’s like “Project Runway" meets “Oscars" kind of thing. In “Oscars Designer Challenge," seven upcoming fashion designers are vying to have their original evening gown worn by one of the Awards escorts during the 81st Academy Awards on February 22. The winning designer will receive two tickets to attend the Oscars ceremony and his design will be worn by his model who will assist in giving the Oscar trophy to the winners during the live telecast at the Kodak Theatre on Oscar night. “This is a great opportunity for any designer," pointed out del Rosario. The seven finalists were chosen by Oscar telecast producers Laurence Mark and Bill Condon along with Oscar fashion coordinator Patty Fox, author of the book “Star Style at the Academy Awards." The fashion preview was held recently at the Academy’s headquarters in Beverly Hills. Del Rosario, who won California’s “Designer of the Year" and GenArt Los Angeles’ “Fresh Face" award, will be competing against Maria Pinto from Chicago (who happens to be the First Lady Michelle Obama’s favorite designer right now), Moire Conroy from New York, Sam Kori George from Chicago, Marianne Kooimans from Los Angeles, Nicolas Putvinski from New York and Robert Rodriguez also from Los Angeles. “I want to capture the old Hollywood glamour and make it more relevant today," revealed del Rosario when we asked him what his inspiration was for his gown. His gown is a strapless French lace and pink silk mermaid gown accentuated with Neil Lane jewelry that includes art deco diamond bracelets, emerald cut diamond ring and art deco linear diamond earrings. The black satin t-strap evening sandals worn by his model Morgan Hewitt are by Stuart Weitzman. When he found out he made it to the Magic 7 finalist list, del Rosario could not contain his excitement. He said, “I was ecstatic. Being in Hollywood, this worked out so well and this is the greatest opportunity that any designer can get." Being a civil engineering graduate in the Philippines has helped him in fashion design, he said. Del Rosario disclosed, “My background as a civil engineer has helped me in my design. It has become sort of an impulse already. My designs are very graphic and structured. I love to play with the human figure." As for his being a Filipino, del Rosario noted that his heritage definitely played a part in his design. “My heritage inspired me a lot of times. My dad is from Spain and the Philippines so I have those influences there always." Del Rosario has two lines --- Burlap by Alan del Rosario is his sexy, sophisticated, funky new contemporary label, while Bow & Arrow by Alan del Rosario is his couture line that translates that red carpet chic into a collection that moves effortlessly with the changing events throughout a woman’s day. The charming and humble designer revealed that he is friends with another Filipino designer who is making waves in Hollywood --- Monique Lhuillier. “Monique and I are friends since we are both Cebuanos and both graduates of the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising (FIDM). She is like a little sister to me," del Rosario revealed. Just like his fellow Cebuano, del Rosario’s clothes are also getting noticed in Hollywood. Some of the celebrities who have worn del Rosario’s creations are Michele Pfeiffer, Debra Messing in “Will & Grace", Paris Hilton, and Drew Barrymore to name a few. “I also have some producers’ wives before who wore my clothes at the Oscars," he stated.Del Rosario revealed that he goes home to the Philippines as often as he could. “I was just there two years ago," he said. “I still have family there in Cebu," he added. Since his creation would be the first one to come out on the ramp for this special Oscars 2009 fashion preview, is he excited? “Yes!" he said smiling. So does he hope to set the bar, we asked. Del Rosario laughed and humbly said, “I hope so." So fellow Filipinos, please show your support and vote for Alan del Rosario’s design by registering and voting at the Oscars website. - Philippine News