Street Dapper King 2024: Toff de Venecia

Unlike other male personalities who showcase their knack for style on the red carpet, at events, and in exotic locations, Toff de Venecia chose Congress to make a statement through fashion. His passion for dressing started in 2022, but instead of simply wearing beautiful pieces, he collaborated with many of today’s talents in the local fashion scene to tell a story.

“During the pandemic, I took up the cause of championing the creative industries in Congress,” Toff recalls. “When I ran and won on my third and final term, I was taking this advocacy a step further. I thought, maybe I need to be as creative on the outside as I am on the inside. As passionate as I am about fighting for this sector of our economy, I feel that somehow my work needed to be in sync with how I present myself.”

And that’s what he did. During the first State of the Nation Address (SONA) of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., Toff wore a Kelvin Morales barong adorned with bangus (milkfish) embroidery. With the help of his style collaborator, stylist Roko Arceo, he continued to wear modern barongs featuring bangus motif—one designed by Jaggy Glarino and the other by Ivar Aseron—in subsequent SONAs, as he wanted to further shine a spotlight on the country’s national fish, Pangasinan’s heritage, and celebrate local craftsmanship.

“What I realized when I started to dress up, for example, wearing contemporary Filipiniana in Congress in 2022, is that you also plant those seeds, and it causes some kind of ripple effect,” Toff says. “I’m starting to see some of my colleagues leverage Filipiniana to present their own advocacy. Maybe that can also inspire all these makers to think differently—that they don’t have to stick to traditional ways of doing this. They can also think outside the box.”

As one of the 2024 Street Dapper Kings, Garage Magazine sits down with Toff as he shares his creative process regarding dressing up, style and grooming essentials, and his vision for the future of men’s fashion.

Apart from being a congressman, you are also a theater director. Is your process of curating outfits similar to how you mount a stage play?

As a theater director, I’m very collaborative. For one, I can’t do things on my own. With my fashion choices, it is a conversation with Roko. However, with my style as a theater director, I like to push boundaries. I always find new ways of doing things. I guess that also reflects in my style, like how I choose to put things together. It’s quite quirky.

What accessory or fashion item are you currently obsessed with? How do you style it?

These shoes—Comme de Garçon x George Cox. I wear them all the time in Congress. They are my clunky, chunky shoes. I love that they are different. I have been wearing my pants cropped so people always see the socks and the shoes. They give my look an edge.

What’s the one outfit that makes you feel confident or empowered?

My creative barongs are a closet staple. I love wearing barongs with cargo pants, creating a street-style Filipiniana look. I like making this traditional, heritage piece accessible and democratic. There has been a stuffiness in the Filipiniana for years. Styling it this manner is a good way to make it more approachable and relevant to the general public.

What is your fashion faux pas?

Now, it would be skinny jeans. Way back before I met Roko, I always wore fitted pants because I didn’t know any other way to dress. Meanwhile, my friends and partners were always wearing loose pants. Then Roko dressed me in these oversized clothes. At first, I was uncomfortable because I didn’t think it was possible to dress that way. But I gave it a try, and it really changed my perspective. Now, I can’t imagine wearing skinny jeans. I enjoy wearing loose, boxy parachute pants.

Where do you think Filipino menswear is heading?

There will be more young Filipiniana menswear designers, especially with the success of designers Kelvin Morales, RJ Santos, and Nicolo Perez. New forms, silhouettes, and textiles will emerge. There will be opportunities for other indigenous crops to be transformed into textiles or materials that can be used in the fashion industry.

Producer: Poy Villamonte
Photography: Mik Primacio of Fatbrain Collective
Art director: Angelo Manalo
Grooming: Muriel Vega Perez and team MVP
Videographer: Andrea Cater 
Location: Manila Prince Hotel 
Special thanks to Edlene Cabral, Kim Tan, Abby Legaspi, and Giselle Trasmonte