Filipino Wedding Glossary › Terno
Terno
Pronunciation: TEHR-noh
Origin: Filipino formal gown with structured butterfly sleeves, derived from the Maria Clara silhouette
A Filipino formal gown with structured butterfly sleeves and a fitted bodice, often worn by brides and matrons.
The terno is a Filipino formal gown with the iconic structured butterfly sleeves. It evolved from the 19th-century Maria Clara dress and was modernized by designers like Pitoy Moreno and Inno Sotto.
Brides wear the terno for traditional or heritage-themed weddings; mothers and ninangs sometimes wear it for any Filipino wedding. Modern designers play with sleeve volume, embroidery, and fabric (piña, jusi, raw silk).
A terno is distinct from a Western ball gown or a sari-style drape. The sleeve shape is the defining feature; reduced or softened sleeves are a designer choice, not a different garment.