For her debut, Caprice Cayetano shines in a custom, sparkly silver gown, as Mak Tumang, alongside Pat Pleno of Studio 24c, brings her vision to life for her special day.

PHOTOGRAPHY Akira Watanabe

In the Philippines, turning 18 is considered one of the most significant milestones in a young woman’s life, as it marks her transition into adulthood. This is often celebrated with a lavish debut, bringing together the debutante’s loved ones and welcoming her into the next chapter. Aside from the traditional debut ceremonies, one of the key elements of the occasion is the debutante’s gown. More than just an ensemble, it reflects her personality and style, allowing her to shine on her special day.
Stepping into a new chapter of her life, actress Caprice Cayetano made sure her gown would be one of the highlights of the celebration. For her debut, she wore a custom creation by one of the country’s most renowned designers, Mak Tumang. Ditching her signature hot pink color, the young actress wore a gown that captured her youthful elegance while reflecting her transition into womanhood. Bringing the vision to life are Tumang and stylist Pat Pleno of Studio 24c, who collaborated to create a look perfect for the special occasion.

As the preparations came together, the debutante opened up about her excitement for the special occasion. “I am very excited because I want it to be very colorful, and they are really supportive about it.” Aside from the overall vibe of her party, one of the things Cayetano made sure of was that she would wear a creation by the acclaimed designer. “Our first choice was Sir Mak Tumang po talaga, ‘yun talaga focus namin for the gown. I wanted everyone to see me wearing Mak Tumang’s gown,” she shared. For her debut, she wanted to stray from her usual pink and stun the guests with a sparkling silver gown, making her the shining star on her own special night, while guests were dressed in black. “Everyone is expecting me to wear a very hot pink gown, so I want it to be very unexpected na woah, she is wearing silver pala!”
Moving away from the traditional voluminous ball-gown silhouette, she also opted for a more fitted look that would allow her to mingle comfortably with guests. “It’s not very ball-gown because I still want to be near people, like I can hug them and greet them,” she said.&nbsp;
Beyond making a statement, the debutante envisioned the gown showcasing her more feminine side as she embraces womanhood. “I wanted everyone to see me wearing a sparkly fitted gown, and I want to let them see Caprice na feminine, entering adulthood Caprice,” she stated.&nbsp;

To bring her vision to life, Tumang worked closely with Studio 24c. After receiving the initial design preferences, Tumang studied them and added his own creative touches to create a gown for the debutante’s special day: “For this particular dress of Caprice, it was actually 24c who messaged me, then they presented a deck, or there is a peg for that. So, I studied that, and I incorporated my inputs after they sent the peg.”
Unlike his other stunning creations, the designer made the ensemble specifically to capture Cayetano’s vision and essence. “This dress is made especially for Caprice, so you’ll match it according to her entire personality. We opted for a super sparkly silver gown, and we put layers on the bottom, and they actually wanted a bejeweled gown for this celebration,” Tumang added.&nbsp;

To take a closer look, Tumang incorporated intricate details, such as a wave flowing from the bodice that shifts into delicate ruffles. “So, for the details of the gown, there is this wave detail that goes from the bodice down to the hem, so parang continuous yung flow niya ng wave,” he described. Moreover, it is also filled with shimmering details: “It is mostly crystals on the bodice; I think that makes it special.”&nbsp;
Aside from these details, a signature Mak Tumang gown would not be complete without its intricate craftsmanship, as he applied a unique approach to one of the gown’s standout features, bringing the design to life. “There is a lot of handwork for this gown, even the ruffles; we used a different technique for the details of the ruffles,” he explained.

Beyond the gown’s adornments, the overall styling also played a part in bringing the actress’ vision to life. Working alongside Tumang is Pleno, who aimed to preserve Cayetano’s youthful elegance while also adding a touch of sophistication. “So, kaya fitted yung silhouette, and meron din tayong embellishments, ‘yun yung parang gusto naming ibigay yung youthful and elegance for Caprice, tapos dreamy din as a princess kaya nilagyan namin ng tulle,” Pleno elaborated.&nbsp;

EXCLUSIVE: A Closer Look at Caprice Cayetano’s Silver Mak Tumang Debut Dress

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