She’s going after her biggest dream—get to know the incoming Miss Universe Philippines 2023 candidate through the lens of fashion
This is an excerpt from MEGA’s February 2023 Stylephile story.
Can you tell us about the exact moment you first fell in love with fashion?
ANGELIQUE: I grew up in a household where clothes were our bread and butter. On the daily, I would wake up to piles of clothes my mother used to sell. I would sometimes accompany her to get the clothes from her supplier, and I get to pick a few items for myself, too. It was what kept me excited: being able to dress up and express myself through fashion. Right there and then I knew I fell in love with the frills and rawness of fashion—and I never stopped evolving with it.
If you could only wear one outfit for the rest of your life, what would it be and why? What’s your ultimate closet staple?
A: Oh, grab that bralette and wide-legged pants combo, throw in a black structured blazer, and play with wearing either heels or sneakers, and add maybe gold accessories and a sporty cap—my foolproof and go-to outfit! If you’ve scoured through my socials, you’d definitely know that a blazer is my ultimate closet staple. It’s so easy to dress it up and down.
How do you accessorize yourself according to your outfit? Can you give us a few examples?
A: Growing up morena, I’ve had my fill of others saying that metallics, gold or silver, don’t go with my complexion; but, they’re definitely my staples now. It’s all about balance for me in the accessorizing department. Let’s say I’m styling my go-to ’fit, and if I’m wearing a chunky earring, I’d go less or no necklace, maybe stack on some bangles and rings, and maybe wear a cap or just let my hair be the main accessory. I try to make sure my accessories are all in the same tones, but I mean who says you can’t mix gold and silver jewelry, too? It’s all about deciding on what the key piece will be and building it up with supporting and minimal accessories.
Are you the type to overdress or underdress? Why?
A: Always the overdresser. Always. I just really get so giddy building an outfit even just for an errand’s day that I get carried away to the point that my boyfriend tells me, “I thought we were dressing chill?” But seriously, nothing beats the feeling of building an outfit that you feel good in, even if others might deem it to be too overdressed. Cliché as it may sound, but it’s better to be overdressed for the simplest things than being underdressed then something big comes along.
Read more about Angelique Manto’s style core in MEGA’s February 2023 issue, now available on Readly, Magzter, Press Reader and Zinio.
Photography JHARWIN CASTANEDA
Creative Direction NICOLE ALMERO
Fashion Direction RYUJI SHIOMITSU
Beauty Direction MIA CASTRO
AÑASCO, and NAVZ ABDURAJAK
Makeup JASON DELOS REYES
Hair DALE MALLARI
Sitting Editors BAM ABELLON, MARIAN SAN PEDRO, BITHIA REYES, and RAYA AÑASCO
