Liz Uy unfazed by Yaya Dub’s gown ‘non-issue’

The hard, creative work that goes behind the styling of TV’s phenomenal Cinderella The style brief was to ‘not veer too far away from the character, but also not an exact copy’ Uy is joined by makeup artist Juan Sarte III and hairdresser Celeste Tuviera

WHEN you think of Yaya Dub’s style, one-half of the TV phenomenon AlDub, you don’t think of that contentious pink ball gown that became the subject of a social media firestorm early this week.

What come to mind instead are her tiered red-and-white polka-dot apron, that ubiquitous fuchsia satchel, her bright-red lipstick, and no-nonsense button-down shirts with sleeves rolled up, paired with skinny jeans and ballet flats.

Alternately, there are those round-neck tees and cuffed shorts, and her fuss-free daily hairstyle of a pulled-back pony.

Yaya Dub’s look is youthful, easy, no-nonsense and befits the character of the AlDub love story’s heroine. She’s an au pair, all right, but she also plays a modern-day Cinderella, such that her character is allowed some concessions not typical of the help: Her boldly tinted lips are a signature and her nails are always immaculately manicured.

That she’s allowed to wear casual clothes, not those shapeless nanny uniforms sold in supermarkets, is also notable. Only on television.

As the comedienne, Maine Mendoza, 20, and her TV character’s popularity continue to rise and endorsement deals pour in, her management company, Tape Inc., has now tapped the services of a celebrity glam squad to create a look that’s consistent with Yaya Dub’s style.

No exact copy

Enter celebrity stylist Liz Uy, makeup artist Juan Sarte III and hairdresser Celeste Tuviera, whose collective client lists include some of the biggest stars in local show biz.

The three have been behind Mendoza’s looks in her new TVCs, and they also worked together for the “Tamang Panahon” concert last Saturday, which drew a reported 50,000 fans to the Philippine Arena in Bulacan.

The style brief was to “not veer too far away from the Yaya Dub character, but also not an exact copy,” according to Uy, whom we interviewed via phone from Shanghai. An in-house wardrobe stylist works with Mendoza on the TV show.

For a fast-food commercial, for instance, Uy and her StyLIZed Studio team put Mendoza in denim overalls to mirror the silhouette of her omnipresent apron on the “Eat