OLIVER TOLENTINO'S DESIGNS SHINE ON THE OSCAR RED CARPET

Date Posted April 2015

By Becky Garcia

FILIPINO fashion designer Oliver Tolentino has done it again! Consistently making waves in the international fashion scene, he made a big splash at the Academy Awards in Hollywood on February 27 by dressing two nominees on the red carpet.

Tolentino dressed Filipino-American Matthew Libatique—who was nominated for Best Cinematography for Black Swan—in a black wool tuxedo with a grey abaca fiber tie for that homegrown touch. Libatique has served as cinematographer on many of Darren Aronofsky’s films aside from Black Swan, and has also worked on director Jon Favreau’s Iron Man and its sequel.

He won the Best Cinematography prize at the Independent Spirit Awards the night before the Oscars—his second after his 2001 win for another Aronofsky film, Requiem for a Dream. He is currently working on Wolverin.

          When Tolentino explained to Libatique that it would be great for him to wear one of our native fabrics to the Oscars, the cinematographer was initially hesitant. But when Tolentino went on to explain that that he was making the tie out of an indigenous plant, Libatique got excited—more so when he saw the finished product.

          Tolentino has been making an effort to promote Philippine native fabrics around the world, most recently working with the Fiber Industry Development Authority (FIDA) in Manila, when he took the “Eco Sustainable Fashion Award” in the Bahamas in October 2010.
He also dressed Gigi Dement for the Oscars, who is one of the producers of the Best Live Action Short film winner God of Love. She looked beautiful in a one-shoulder, fully-beaded teal green and purple mermaid gown, which had purple silk cascading from her shoulder down to a narrow purple belt. Dement, a Filipino-American, was witnessed the triumph of her 18-minute short film as its director Luke Matheny accepted the award.

          Tolentino has certainly been garnering lots of attention in the international fashion scene. Earlier this month, he dressed Grammy Nominee Kelly Price for the 2011 Grammy awards. Price was nominated for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance for her dance mix “Tired,” which will be receiving a major push in local clubs come April.

          He also dressed Anna Maria Perez de Tagle (Camp Rock, Hannah Montana, Fame) in a piña cocktail dress when she performed at Ronald Reagan’s 100th Birthday Gala in front of Nancy Reagan, former vice president Dick Cheney and hundreds of congressman. It was the first time most people in that audience had seen piña fabric.

          Other celebrities Tolentino has dressed in the past few months include actresses Amber Riley (Glee) for the Golden Globes; Eva La Rue (CSI Miami) for a magazine cover; Aly Michalka (Hellcats) also for a magazine cover; Sophia Bush (One Tree Hill) for a Globes party; Jenna Ushkowitz (Glee) for a photo shoot; and Camille Grammer (Real Housewives of Beverly Hills) for TV appearances. Just this week, the wife of the owner of Paul Mitchell wore Tolentino’s Bahamas-winning piña gown for the cover of an eco magazine.
He also dressed Arnel Pineda for Journey’s U S concert tour and exclusively dressed Kuh Ledesma for her recent Valentine’s concert in Manila.

          Tolentino, you are truly making your country proud. Mabuhay ka!