The Vietnamese designer Nguyen Cong Tri and ABC Ao Dai will take care of costumes for the Vietnamese contestant, Vo Hoang Yen, at the 2009 Miss Universe pageant over August 1-23.

Cong Tri measures Vo Hoang Yen to begin designing her costumes for the 2009 Miss Universe pageant. (Photo: Courtesy of Uni Corp)

Discussing the dresses, Tri said: “Yen possess a good body and white skin, and all my designs for her at the pageant will probably make her more charming among the other contestants.

“The highlights will be two evening dresses for the final night with my best design and best materials.”

Meanwhile, Dinh Van Tho, a spokesperson for ABC, said: “We will keep all the traditional beautiful designs on the ao dai for Yen, but we will also add some modern patterns and use new materials to make it fit modern fashion.”

All the designs will be finished before July 20 and Yen will introduce all of these to the local audiences via the media.

Duc Tri is one of the most popular designers in Vietnam with various awards, including second prize at the 2001 Fashion Collection Singapore and Bay FM Award at the 2000 Asia Collection Makuhari in Japan.

In early 2009, Tri presented his collection “Love story” in France and received a lot of positive feedback from the locals.

ABC Ao Dai is popular for its designs with contestants at local and international beauty pageants, including 2007 Miss Earth, 2008 Miss Universe Vietnam and 2008 Miss World.

Recently, they presented their new collection at the 2008 Sea Festival in the southern coastal city of Nha Trang.

VietNamNet/SGGP