Yeng Constantino’s Concert Dress Was Made from Reworked Band Tees

Last weekend, on August 28 and 29, Yeng Constantino celebrated her 20th anniversary in music with Biyaheng Bente, a two-night concert at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City. The sold-out shows brought together the singer-songwriter’s longtime fans and several of her celebrity friends.

Throughout the concert, Yeng took the audience through different chapters of her career. Naturally, the visual direction and styling followed suit, with each look capturing the spirit of a particular era in her journey.

In an interview with Preview, her stylist Ica Villanueva shared the thinking behind Yeng’s concert wardrobe.

“We started with a playful opening look that felt unmistakably Yeng, including her signature Converse sneakers,” she explained. “As the show progressed, we wanted the wardrobe to evolve with her story and pay tribute to important parts of her journey as an artist.”

Among Yeng’s most memorable concert outfits was a graphic-print dress featuring a lace-trimmed, off-shoulder neckline and an asymmetric paneled skirt with a high slit.

The T-shirt-inspired bodice was printed with Yeng’s real name, “Josephine,” alongside a childhood photo, while the flowing skirt was constructed from reworked band tees. Custom-made by Filipino streetwear brand Proudrace, the ensemble paid homage to Yeng’s beginnings in music, when she performed with a band before breaking into the mainstream entertainment scene.

Before winning the first season of Pinoy Dream Academy in 2006, Yeng was the lead vocalist of a band called Morning Glory. Based in Rodriguez, Rizal—her hometown—the singer joined the group at just 14 years old.

“We wanted this look to be a tribute to OPM and, at the same time, a nod to Yeng’s own beginnings as a vocalist in a band,” Ica noted.

Constructed from reworked merchandise tees, the skirt was constructed from a patchwork of shirts from some of Yeng’s favorite OPM acts, which include Rivermaya, Parokya ni Edgar, Sandwich, and Eraserheads.

“Since the overall concept of the concert was to take the audience through different chapters of her journey, it felt meaningful to incorporate the bands that influenced and inspired her relationship with music,” the stylist shared.

Having previously collaborated with Proudrace on a custom ensemble for Yeng several years ago, Ica immediately knew the brand would be the right fit for the concept. “Proudrace is a brand I’ve always admired because Rik [Rasos] has such a clear and distinct vision for the brand,” she expressed.

The idea began with one of Yeng’s childhood photographs, which Ica thought would pair well when printed with the singer’s real name, Josephine, so as to make the garment feel even more personal.

True to the Proudrace DNA, the silhouette framed Yeng’s figure in an effortlessly relaxed and cool way. “The final look felt very Proudrace, but at the same time, very personal and very Yeng,” Ica mused.