Dream Dressing: What If Filipino Celebrities Took on the MET Gala 2025?

If you were invited to the MET Gala 2025, the pressure would hit faster than a flashbulb. Would you even have the nerve to walk in without shedding a diamond-shaped tear every time a publication criticizes your choice? It’s tough to imagine pulling off a look without wondering if you’re on the verge of making a “what was I thinking” fashion faux pas. But then again, that’s what makes the idea of getting dressed for the MET Gala so exciting and a little terrifying.

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But let’s move on from our own fashion crises and turn to something more fun: imagining how these Filipino celebrities would tackle the biggest night in fashion if they were to grace its red carpet. Would they interpret the theme with full commitment or redefine it entirely by pretending it didn’t exist?

Dolly De Leon in Wales Bonner

For an actress whose presence crackles with quiet intensity, Wales Bonner’s intellectually layered tailoring, steeped in diaspora histories, makes sense. Poetic suits with a Jamaican-British influence, finished with a touch of nun-like elegance, if she wants to nod to her first Hollywood television show with Nicole Kidman, Nine Perfect Strangers.

Jericho Rosales in Martine Rose

Rugged yet suave, Jericho Rosales would own Martine Rose’s subcultural spin on tailoring. Oversized suiting with a laid-back edge — rock star vibes mixed with a rakista dad cruising on a Ducati.

Heart Evangelista in Christopher John Rogers

Heart Evangelista needs drama with refinement. Christopher John Rogers can give her a voluminous look that moves like couture but cuts like a quip. High tailoring, rich colors, and enough presence to rival a rainbow. 

Anne Curtis in Theophilio

Anne Curtis’ appeal lies in her mix of sweet and striking. Theophilio’s “glamorous grunge” aesthetic of slick tailoring and skin adds fire to her softness. Jamaican-American cool meets Filipina darling.

Pia Wurtzbach in LaQuan Smith

LaQuan’s sensual tailoring would sculpt Pia Wurtzbach like a crown—sharp, body-conscious, and camera-ready. The kind of dress that wins again without a stage or a tiara.

Kyle Echarri in Off-White

There’s no way to talk about tailoring through a modern Black lens without invoking Virgil Abloh. His work at Off-White redefined streetwear between sneaker and suit, casual and couture. For Kyle, whose Gen Z persona is near-impossible to label, Off-White is a natural fit. 

Kelsey Merritt in Bianca Saunders

With her supermodel silhouette and minimalist confidence, Kelsey Merritt would shine in Bianca Saunders’ cool tailoring—clean, structured, and full of subtle movement. Menswear cut for the modern muse.

Bretman Rock in Thom Browne

Either way, it’s camp with conscience. If Bretman goes witty and meta, Telfar is the choice for its queer, cool, and radically Black. If he wants MET Gala drama, Thom Browne’s architectural tailoring delivers spectacle. 

Dressing for the MET Gala is a performance touched on full-on fantasy. It’s hard to pull off couture while fearing you’re a meme-in-the-making. But that’s the thrill of dressing: you risk it all for the photo.

Photos: WALES BONNER, MARTINE ROSE, CHRISTOPHER JOHN ROGERS, THEOPHILIO, LAQUAN SMITH, OFF-WHITE, BIANCA SAUNDERS, and THOM BROWNE; DOLLY DE LEON, HEART EVANGELISTA, ANNE CURTIS, PIA WURTZBACH, KELSEY MERRITT, and BRETMAN ROCK (via Instagram); and MEGA ARCHIVES