The Preview Best Dressed List 2026

Donny Pangilinan has never been one to overthink his outfits. Even after a decade in the limelight—and a lifetime growing up in one of showbiz’s most recognizable families—the 28-year-old has maintained a remarkably simple outlook on life. Rather than chasing trends or trying to become the room’s most stylish person, he simply wears whatever feels most like himself.

“It’s really just being comfortable in my own skin, mixing and matching, playing around, and sometimes just wearing whatever I feel like,” he shares. On most days, the actor-entrepreneur finds himself in a classic shirt and jeans, a perfectly boxy jacket, a nice watch adorning his wrist, and the occasional earring.

“I would say my personal style is not so much about trends,” he says. “It’s more about being comfortable and wearing something timeless.”

Like most people, his style has evolved over the years. Donny recalls a time when his closet looked very different. Back in high school, he gravitated toward brighter colors and brand-heavy pieces. These days, he’s traded all that for garments he can slip on without thinking twice. “If I get to wear something and not have to think about how people perceive it, then I’m super okay with that,” he says.

Donny credits much of his understanding of style to his siblings, whom he fondly describes as his “panel of judges” growing up. “They can be the biggest haters, but also the biggest cheerleaders,” he says.

He recounts the scenario vividly: He’d step out of his room dressed in an outfit he had picked out, and each of his four siblings would give their critiques. “Even Solana [my youngest sister] will have her own comments!” he chuckles.

These days, though, the only opinion he really dresses for is his own. The way he sees it, getting dressed isn’t about proving taste or collecting compliments.
The goal has always been much simpler: to wear something that feels honest to who he truly is.

“I think being ‘best dressed’ is not about wearing clothes just to please other people… At the end of the day, it’s about wearing something that you feel represents yourself, that you feel comfortable in, and something that excites you,” he says.

“Everyone has a story to tell, and I think wearing clothes is one of those ways where you can best share that story.”

Atasha Muhlach finds comfort in contradictions. For her, there is a kind of certainty that comes with change, and this is the very idea she lives and breathes across different facets of her life—fashion included.

If there is a way to describe her style, it is the intersection where two opposite ends of the spectrum meet. Sharp, tailored silhouettes blend with relaxed pieces, while vintage looks get a modern treatment. “I never like to narrow it down or keep it to just one thing because you never know what’s actually perfect for you until you try.” She continues, “I never think that there’s an endpoint in how you dress.”

This openness has allowed her to evolve through the years. From observing what people wear and how they carry themselves to immersing herself in art as she travels the globe, the 24-year-old believes that style emerges from the soul—not from trends, brands, or price tags.

“At the end of the day, how you feel in your outfit is the most important thing,” she says. And according to her, the only way to find what works is to keep trying. “It’s experience that will tell you what’s good for you.”

Suffice it to say, Atasha fearlessly dips her toes into different waters, and this doesn’t only apply in the sartorial sense. It’s also evident in her many ventures in the industry, such as her return to the theater stage in the titular role of Newport World Resorts’ Bongga Ka ‘Day! The Annie Batungbakal Musical. Exploring is simply in her nature, and yet, no matter how many characters she’s set to embody, she remains steadfast in her own identity.

The “golden secret,” as Atasha describes it, is to never confine yourself within the walls of a particular style or characteristic you’re known for. “Just be open,” she says, “because everything else can be yours.”

Ask her to describe the way she dresses, and Daryl Chang puts it succinctly: “eclectic but edited.”

“I’m always responding to what I’m seeing, reading, listening to, or simply feeling at a particular moment,” she explains. “There are recurring elements, of course, but I like the idea that personal style should remain a little bit in flux.”

The foundation of her perspective was built long before algorithms began predicting taste. Early in her career, fashion demanded curiosity.

As Preview’s fashion director from 2008 to 2018, Daryl spent years studying magazines, tracing designer references, and immersing herself in art, architecture, film, music, and street style to sharpen her instincts. “There was really no algorithm constantly feeding me what I thought I would like,” she recalls. “So I really had to develop my own eye.”

Rather than chasing trends, Daryl begins with a simple internal check: “Do I feel like myself today in this?” Some days, the answer is a T-shirt and shorts. Others call for tailoring “so sharp it could cut.” Both feel equally authentic because each reflects her state of mind.

“I’m much more interested in whether it feels right to me,” she says. “I don’t necessarily want to look dressed up. I want to feel like the outfit has my point of view for that day.”

Personal style, in Daryl’s eyes, has always been easier to spot in people with conviction than in those chasing trends. Inspiration might come from a creative she has admired for years or a stranger passing by on the street.

“I’m drawn to people who don’t seem overly concerned with being conventionally fashionable,” she says. “Most of them have a very strong personal language.” Individuality, not novelty, is the quality she finds most compelling.

Ironically, decades spent working in fashion have left Daryl wanting less. Surrounded by an endless stream of clothes, she’s learned to edit ruthlessly, invest intentionally, and repeat outfits unapologetically. “The idea that personal style requires constant reinvention seems exhausting,” she says. “It just needs to be updated once in a while.”

For many, Ida’s introduction came through a color-coded curation of style, captured in the squares of Instagram before curation was even a thing on the platform.

Don’t be mistaken, though. Her sartorial sense is anything but boxed in. This comes as no surprise for someone who leans toward aspects of media “where you least go to find fashion inspiration from,” be it a film’s atmosphere, a video game character, or the beat of a song. “I’m more interested in translating a feeling,” she says. “I like clothes that suggest a world, even when its story only exists in my head.”

For the visual artist, this vision is best manifested through looks that carry tension. “My style is simple in composition, but expressive in detail.” It is feminine in essence, but look closely, and you will find something distressed, a little undone, and even slightly strange—all of which contribute to the mysterious aura Ida brings into every room she enters.

Having established her presence on social media, Ida admits that she was not always immune to algorithmic dressing. “There were times when I dressed according to a particular trend or an idea of who I thought I should be,” she says. But this also helped lead her to her authentic self—someone who prefers delicate textures in darker colors and pieces that feel more true than perfect.

She does not necessarily plan what she wears, contrary to what people may think. Rather, she constructs an outfit by relying largely on instinct. Nothing is too polished, and no detail is overthought. It speaks to how well she has come to know and understand herself—and how she chooses to communicate that to the rest of the world.

“My career as a visual artist has taught me not to treat dressing as a performance all the time.” She continues, “This is not a separate part of my life—dressing up. It’s something deeply embedded in how I go about life.” For Ida, fashion is a personal affair. She is a character in her own world, whose narrative continues to be written.

Streetwear is surrounded by misconceptions, and Jarren Garcia is setting the record straight. “Some people think that streetwear is just streetwear, but it’s so much more than that. There’s so much culture that comes from it, too.” It may be constructed from pieces that are usually deemed casual, but the style requires a certain amount of commitment—sometimes at the expense of comfort. “I’m always wearing a lot of layers, even in the Philippines, and people are asking why.” He playfully explains, “If you’re not sweating, you’re not dripping.”

Jarren recognized fashion as a part of himself long before entering the Pinoy Big Brother house and becoming a VJ and musician. “The way I dress was already there before my career,” he says, recalling how he would dress up and put on a show for his parents at five years old before immersing himself in the industry as a young model in London.

For him, streetwear is more versatile than it seems, and taking inspiration “from everywhere” allows him to continuously explore its possibilities. Traveling to different places, observing the people, and learning about their cultures are among the many influences that shape his style.

Pursuing a career in the Philippines, however, was a “completely different” journey. The 19-year-old admits to questioning whether or not he should change his style to conform to other people’s expectations, but ultimately decided that being best dressed simply means being himself. “It made me realize that people like me because of that—those outrageous, streetwear looks.”

Now, the rising artist is hardly seen without stacks of jewelry—or, in his words, “absolute jewelry-maxxing”—multiple belts threaded through imaginary belt loops, and floor-grazing, baggy jeans, whether he’s performing onstage or simply heading to the convenience store. People may think it’s too much, but that’s a compliment in Jarren’s book. He concludes, “I like to be a lot.”

When athletes are not breaking a sweat in their respective arenas, people might expect to see them strolling around in activewear—clothing that caters to both comfort and function, allowing them to transition seamlessly from a casual errand to a scheduled training session.

For Kianna Dy, it’s high time to break this mold. “I'm getting tired of wearing athleisure,” she admits. “I like wearing outfits that people don't necessarily expect athletes to wear. We can dress up also.”

The professional volleyball player has taken sartorial notes from athletes’ general approach to dressing, prioritizing comfort and mobility even when she is neither training for nor playing a game. However, one consideration tops them all. “I look in the mirror and ask myself, ‘Does this outfit make me happy?’” She approaches these expectations with a broader perspective, saying, “It's fun to show a different side of myself outside the volleyball court.”

Simple, effortless, and subtly polished, Kianna opts for pieces that serve as blank canvases—the type that can be worn repeatedly but styled each time differently. “You can still make a statement with basics,” she says, highlighting how a thoughtful curation of accessories can elevate them with ease.

This fashion philosophy makes it no wonder that Bottega Veneta has a special place in her heart and her wardrobe. “I’m a huge fan,” she gushes. “I love how understated yet luxurious they are.” Every intrecciato weave speaks for itself, showcasing the craftsmanship of the house’s artisans in a way that is more powerful than it is loud. “Quiet, modern, and chic” is how Kianna sees the Italian luxury fashion house—the same words one could use to describe her style.

Breaking free from expectations, Kianna is carving her own sartorial path. “Being best dressed means wearing something that feels authentic to you, and carrying it with confidence.” For Kianna, fashion doesn’t have to be loud. It only has to be real.

Ham knows exactly who he is and what he likes. It comes through when he explains why he prefers silver over gold and shorts over pants. It also shows when he says that his socks and shoes always have to be in bright colors. “I want my shoes to ground the entire look, so if I wear black shoes, it feels so heavy,” Abraham, fondly called Ham, explains.

As one-half of the Filipino designer brand ḢA.MÜ, he is inseparable from fashion. “ḢA.MÜ is an extension of my brain and my identity. And it's a representation of what I can become.” He has always envisioned what he is capable of. He caught a glimpse of it in high school, although he was ostracized for wanting to dress a certain way. It became even more visible when he returned from Singapore to pursue fashion studies in the Philippines—with only “four pairs of shoes, three pairs of trousers, three shirts, two jackets, two bags” in his luggage.

Rather than dimming his light, his experiences only made it shine brighter as he proudly channels his bold and whimsical sartorial sensibilities and translates them into pieces for others to experience.

Ham approaches fashion with a childlike philosophy—taking the liberty to play around, noting how each detail makes him feel, and, above all, placing other people’s opinions at the bottom of his priorities. “Because I was able to let go of that mentality, so many doors and opportunities opened for me, not only as a designer but also as an individual.” With this approach, he says, “A self-introduction has already been made without me having to say anything.”

He also applies this whenever he constructs a look. At work, he will typically wear a balanced outfit—neither too subdued nor too bright, so as not to affect his flow. When he’s in dire need of a vacation, you’ll find him in Hawaiian shirts. And when he needs a sense of calm, you can expect to see him in the color blue. Fashion is a form of communication, and Ham unapologetically declares, This is who I am.

In his eyes, the line between masculine and feminine style is blurred, rules are made to be bent, and curiosity is the key that unlocks new ideas. “The way you dress is a reflection of how open your mind is to the world,” he says. And Ham’s style reflects one truth: Fashion is freedom.

Mav arrives on set carrying an oversized shopper tote packed with clothes. Before long, she steps out of the dressing room, all decked out in pieces she thrifted.

Many know her as one half of photography duo Cenon at Mav, but anyone familiar with her TikTok content also knows that her thrifting game is simply next level. Whether she’s digging through the racks at an ukay-ukay or scrolling through Carousell listings, the multidisciplinary artist is a clear pro at scoring designer gems at bargain prices. “Malaking part talaga ng style ko yung pag-uukay ko,” she shares. “Doon ko talaga nakuha yung heart ng style ko.”

Trying to pin Mav’s style down to one aesthetic is nearly impossible. Each outfit she puts together is an eclectic mix of elements that don’t sound like they’d work on paper, yet somehow always do—much like the layered visual language of her photography. A Polly Pocket-inspired dress gets paired with biker gloves. A sporty windbreaker meets an evening-ready satin skirt. The combinations are playful, a little unexpected, and unmistakably Mav. “Basta laging dapat may skirt. A Mav outfit is never complete without a skirt,” she declares.

“I always start with the vibe,” she says of her styling process. “Then I ask myself, ‘What’s inspiring me today?’ From there, I start putting the look together.” No matter where that inspiration leads, though, Mav believes that confidence is the one accessory she should never go without. “But no matter what inspires me, I always remind myself to be confident. That’s what makes an outfit feel authentic.”

For Mav, getting dressed has always been a form of self-expression. She rarely shows up to a shoot without a thoughtfully curated look. In fact, she arrives on set looking like she could easily step in front of the camera herself. “I enjoy playing a character through my outfits, dedma sa bashers,” she playfully quips. “It makes the creative process even more fun.”

To her, great style has very little to do with how much your clothes cost. It’s about one’s capacity to imagine and dream up a look—the ability to see potential where others might not. “I even sketch my outfits before wearing them,” she says. “Every look is different depending on the occasion, and I have to give credit to the thrift stores and Carousell for supplying half my wardrobe.”

As an artist and designer, Martina gravitates toward eclectic combinations of colors, patterns, and silhouettes. The construction of her vintage lime green jacket by Jean Paul Gaultier, paired with a delicate turquoise skirt by Atelier Carlene, certainly gives it away. This fusion of structure and softness—both foreign and homegrown—has become a signature aspect of her fun yet refined style.

Martina is immersed in various cultures, being based between Europe and the Philippines, but being far from home only brings her closer to it. “Whenever I travel to different places, I see new inspiration, but it’s also a way to connect with what my background is—I’m from Manila.” In 2025, she breathed life into this connection and founded her eponymous label, where she translates Filipino cultural narratives into wearable art.

Heritage and history undeniably play a pivotal role in her sartorial discoveries, and she says her sense of style has simply evolved with age. Older and wiser, the creative credits the industry for pushing her to “be more bold” in her choices. “Five years ago, I had a lot of ideas, but I’d still end up wearing a white T-shirt and jeans because I was too scared,” she reflects. “Now, I’ve been a bit braver in choosing funky shapes and weird colors. I have more control over what I want to wear.”

With humility, she honors those who came before her, having developed a particular fondness for the way grandparents dress. “A chic lola is honestly everything I want to be,” she lightheartedly says. “Their style really looks lived-in, and they are so authentic to themselves.” She also finds inspiration in old films. A favorite is Pedro Almodóvar, the Spanish director known for weaving bold colors and glossy décor into complex narratives—an approach Martina stylishly embodies today.

While she takes fragments of the past as puzzle pieces of her modern style, she stands firmly in the present, too. She candidly names internet personality Mimiyuuuh as one of today’s fashion icons, saying, “What really draws me to her is she dresses as who she is, while highlighting the best versions of herself. I think anyone should try to take that challenge.” Martina interlocks the past and present with a vision that could propel her into fashion’s future. Perhaps this is why her style feels timeless.

Long before “core” aesthetics and hyper-specific fashion labels became part of the internet’s vocabulary, Maronne was already dressing like the protagonist of a story only she could see.

Spend a few minutes browsing through the theater artist and content creator’s outfits, and a pattern begins to emerge. Puffy silhouettes. Chunky, almost cartoonishly oversized details. A trusty pair of boots or Mary Janes. Every look feels like it belongs in a fantastical and completely otherworldly realm.

“I imagine my style as being worn by someone who lives in a world more magical than ours,” she says.

Her sartorial inclination first took shape during her childhood, after she discovered the Japanese magazines FRUiTS and Gothic Lolita Bible. One introduced her to the fearless individuality of Harajuku street style, while the other immersed her in Victorian-inspired Gothic Lolita fashion. More importantly, both showed her that clothing could become a form of storytelling.

Fashion eventually became the lens through which Maronne made sense of herself. “I like to use fashion as my way of understanding the world and myself,” she shares. As she grew older, she learned—and unlearned—ideas about beauty and identity, realizing that many of the rules surrounding style were arbitrary. “That’s really when I let myself start not caring and having fun with my style.”

Having spent a little more than a decade as a theater actress, Maronne credits the craft for teaching her to embrace that sense of wonder and fantasy. Working in children’s productions also sharpened her appreciation for joyful color combinations, lively prints, and period-inspired details that continue to appear throughout her wardrobe.

It’s also why her influences stretch far beyond fashion, from anime and video games to the work of designers like Vivienne Westwood, Shushu/Tong, and Jonathan Anderson.

Being named to this year’s Best Dressed List came with a touch of impostor syndrome, Maronne admits. She vividly remembers being “that anime nerd in school,” never expecting that the interests that once made her feel out of place would eventually define her creative voice.

“The weird kid to creative profession pipeline is so real,” she says with a laugh.

Perhaps that’s also what being well-dressed means today. For Maronne, it has little to do with expensive clothes or mastering trends. “What makes someone best dressed is when they are so whole and so aligned that their soul sort of shines through every style choice they make.”

Melville Sy has built quite the portfolio to his name. A celebrity stylist and co-founder of Studio 24c, he frequently works with some of the country’s biggest names, including Marian Rivera, Dingdong Dantes, and many others. Day after day, showbiz’s brightest stars rely on his eye for putting together looks that bring out their best.

What makes Melville’s work stand out is how effortless it feels. He starts with timeless pieces, then layers in just enough detail to give each outfit its own personality. Nothing feels overdone. Instead, every look comes across as polished, intentional, and true to the person wearing it.

As it turns out, the way he dresses his clients isn’t all that different from how he dresses himself.

When it comes to his own wardrobe, Melville keeps things straightforward. He’s drawn to well-made classics that can stand the test of time, with clean, relaxed silhouettes that are never devoid of personality. Every outfit starts with what he calls a “hero piece,” then everything else falls into place around it.

“I usually gravitate toward pieces with interesting craftsmanship—whether it’s embroidery, pleating, textured fabrics, or mixed materials,” he explains to Preview. “I love clothes that have subtle details and feel unique without being loud.”

That eye for detail is something he has developed by looking beyond the world of fashion. Whether it’s art, architecture, or nature, Melville draws inspiration from the textures, forms, and colors he encounters along the way. “Seeing different cultures and environments always gives me fresh ideas about textures, colors, and how pieces can be styled in unexpected ways,” he muses.

His work has shaped his personal style just as much as his personal style has influenced his work. Spending years dressing celebrities has made him more mindful of the way he presents himself. “Working as a celebrity stylist has made me more conscious of how I present myself,” he candidly shares.

Every client brings something different to the table, whether it’s their personality, preferences, or signature aesthetic. That constant shift is simply part of the job, and it’s pushed Melville to keep an open mind. Along the way, he’s learned to broaden his horizons and experiment with fresh ideas without losing sight of his own point of view. “It has encouraged me to explore different silhouettes, designers, and ideas while staying true to my own aesthetic. It also reminds me that what I wear is an extension of my creativity,” he says.

There’s an ease to the way Marina Summers commands attention.

Somewhere between getting glammed and finding her mark on set, she has already slipped into performance mode. Her posture shifts, her gaze sharpens, and every movement is as feisty as it gets, as though she already knows exactly how her Rick Owens coat and Rick Obnamia chain mail dress are meant to be photographed.

Clearly, Marina understands the power of a statement look. From the moment she set foot on Drag Race Philippines, and eventually RuPaul’s Drag Race: UK vs. The World, the international drag star has showcased her distinct point of view through her sartorial choices.

One day, she’s in a sculptural gown with sweeping proportions; the next, she’s slipping into a sleek, body-skimming dress. Rather than subscribing to a single aesthetic, she lets each occasion shape the look while staying unmistakably herself. “The way I dress is super intuitive. Whatever fits the mood,” she says. “I can go from effortless chic, effortless glam, but there’s always a hint of skin.”

Over the past year, however, Marina has embarked on a journey toward fully embracing her womanhood. After undergoing top surgery, Marina found herself reaching for plunging necklines and pieces that celebrate her changing body. “As a trans woman, I love pieces of clothing that really accentuate my body shape,” she shares. “It’s mostly all about silhouette.”

In many ways, fashion became her first language. Before she could fully articulate what she was experiencing, getting dressed gave her a way to step into the person she had always known herself to be. “Fashion was my way to embody the woman and really express my transness,” she reflects.

She credits Instagram, fashion shows, and countless celebrity red carpet appearances as starting points for inspiration, admitting she’s still “figuring out and experimenting with the looks” she wants to wear, especially now that she’s attending more events out of drag. Rather than settling into a formula, she continues to let her wardrobe evolve alongside her.

Throughout her career, Marina has consistently championed Filipino designers, wearing their work on international competition stages and at fashion events around the world. Every standout look, she says, belongs just as much to the people who created it.

“I’ve been working with Filipino designers ever since,” she says. “I love Filipino craftsmanship, design, and style. So me being part of the Preview Best Dressed List is a shoutout to all of the creative minds, designers, stylists, hairstylists, assistants, and creatives… It’s an accumulation of all these people behind me who have been rallying behind me.”

For Marina Summers, fashion has never been about arriving at a final version of herself. It’s a creative process shaped by self-expression, collaboration, and the freedom to keep evolving.