MANILA, Philippines??If you?re going to wear a gown for five to six hours, you might as well wear something comfortable.?

Take it from Inno Sotto, one of the country?s most sought-after designers for several decades now. No matter how strongly he feels for a certain look or detail, for instance, he always lets the client have the last say.

?I won?t try to force anything that might make the client feel uncomfortable or uneasy,? he says. ?I don?t see the point in making her wear something she fusses over or fidgets in all night. No matter how fabulous the gown is, her uneasiness is bound to show.?

He also makes it a point to ask a first-time client a hypothetical question: If given the budget, who?s the foreign designer she would likely buy from?

?If her favorite is Roberto Cavalli,? says Sotto, ?why would I give her something inspired by Ralph Rucci or Calvin Klein? I would try to work around what she likes without losing my own stamp as a designer.?

Like Sotto, fashion ?supremo? Auggie Cordero also tries to find out such basics as a woman?s lifestyle, the circle she moves around in and the occasion she intends to wear the gown to.

?I go as far as to give them fashion advice to allow them to rework their gowns depending on the venue,? says Cordero. ?Aside from jewelry, accessories like shawls and jackets do a lot to keep a look fresh and appropriate.?

Joji Lloren, like his two more senior colleagues, also emphasizes the importance of good fit, proper proportions and right color to complement one?s skin tone. Everybody loves a good buy, but he cautions penny-pinching fashionistas from overdoing it.

?Never compromise on quality,? he says. ?I?ve always believed that less is more. A good gown should complement your looks and enhance your personality. It should never overpower you.?

Alex Y. Vergara