Maria Katrina Paras

Hanfu Makeover Shoot The White Rabbit Studio Makati

Article (news)

<p>We&#x27;re pretty sure you&#x27;ve come across this kind of transformation on social media—where a tourist in cities like <strong>Chongqing, Chengdu, or Beijing</strong> gets a <strong>Hanfu</strong><strong>-style makeover</strong> and poses against a Chinese historical backdrop. We have to say, this makes for a stunning photo on Instagram. </p><p>You&#x27;ve most likely also come across this look in a Chinese drama, too, as this genre is pretty hot on streaming platforms like Netflix and iQiyi. We at Metro are pretty obsessed with <strong>C-Drama</strong>, so we didn&#x27;t pass up the chance to get our very own Hanfu makeover <strong>right here in Manila</strong>! Yes, you read that right—we didn&#x27;t have to book a flight to China to get this stunning makeover done!</p><div style="text-align:center"><br/><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/guXjPPEmDsc?si=0bBse27SHXk9aQKc" title="YouTube video player" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div><div style="text-align:center"><br/></div><div style="text-align:left"><br/></div><div style="text-align:left"><strong>Our Experience</strong></div><p style="text-align:left">Enter: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/thewhiterabbit.mnl" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>The White Rabbit Studio</strong></a>. The studio, situated in Makati, specializes in viral concept shoots like the Hanfu transformation. With years of experience and having trained in China, this studio is guaranteed to give you an amazing experience, worthy of your social media feed! I, along with our Beauty Writer <a href="https://www.instagram.com/arciclaveria" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Arci Claveria</a>, tried this experience a few weeks ago, and we must say, it&#x27;s truly one for the books! </p><div style="text-align:left"><br/></div><div style="text-align:left"><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib fr-rounded" style="width:800px;display:block" width="800"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1785739714922Arci Claveria Hanfu.jpg" style="width:800px" class="fr-fic fr-dib fr-rounded" width="800"/><span class="fr-inner">Arci Claveria&#x27;s Hanfu makeover by The White Rabbit Studio</span></span></span>&quot;As someone who frequently watches C-dramas, this transformation was a stellar experience! Before embodying the <em>xianxia</em> character look or empress-like appearance, the process of the transformation sparked my interest. It gave me a snippet of what it is like behind the production of my go-to shows.</div><p>It started with the makeup, which took the longest time and was the true essence of the transformation: the classic <strong>Douyin effect.</strong> Next came the intricately styled hair, layered professionally by the artist. When I finally looked in the mirror, I was surprised at how beautiful and feminine I looked—like a crown princess prepared to conquer historical heights! When I noticed the artist used the right color for my skin tone without making it look ashy and complemented my rounded face with framing hair accessories, nothing about the final look felt haphazardly done. The owner truly proved her years of experience in China. I looked polished, flawless, and utterly stunning.</p><p>Just when I thought that the makeup was the centerpiece, the experience became even better when, during the photoshoot, Pursuit of Jade’s OST played in the background. The whole session felt completely immersive, temporarily transporting me straight into the world of the iconic drama!</p><p>Overall, the photoshoot wasn’t just a fictional transformation; it was a whole feeling and an unforgettable experience I would love to do again.&quot; <strong><em>—Arci Claveria, Beauty &amp; Wellness Writer</em></strong></p><div><strong></strong><br/></div><div><br/></div><div><strong></strong><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib fr-rounded" style="width:800px;display:block" width="800"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1785740528920Kate Paras-Santiago Hanfu.jpg" style="width:800px" class="fr-fic fr-dib fr-rounded" width="800"/><span class="fr-inner">Kate Paras-Santiago&#x27;s Hanfu Makeover by The White Rabbit Studio</span></span></span>&quot;I admit, I was a bit apprehensive to try the Hanfu makeover. I, too, am a C-drama fan, but I am not as knowledgeable as my other colleagues. I was also a bit worried about not being able to pull off the porcelain skin look! Nevertheless, I headed over to The White Rabbit Studio in San Antonio Village in Makati and dove headfirst into the experience. My makeup artist was Filipina, but she has been trained by the studio&#x27;s owner, who has worked in a studio in Beijing for years. The outcome was stunning—I never thought I could look beautiful in Douyin-style makeup, as I&#x27;m very used to Western styles: smoky eyes, a contoured and bronzed face, and lined lips. This was very refreshing to me. </div><p>The cherry on top of the look was the elaborate hairstyle and headgear they made me wear—it truly became my crowning glory. The costumes were shipped all the way from China and fit me perfectly. Overall, I am very, very happy with how the images turned out. The set is professionally done, and the fantasy came through. I highly recommend this makeover!&quot; <strong><em>—Kate Paras-Santiago, Beauty &amp; Wellness Editor</em></strong></p><div><br/></div><div><br/></div><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib fr-rounded" style="width:800px;display:block" width="800"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1785741139572Arci Claveria Hanfu 2.jpg" style="width:800px" class="fr-fic fr-dib fr-rounded" width="800"/><span class="fr-inner">Photography, Set Design, and Makeup by The White Rabbit Studio</span></span></span></div><div><strong><br/></strong></div><div><strong>Behind The White Rabbit Studio</strong><strong><br/></strong></div><div><strong>Metro.Style: What inspired you to put up The White Rabbit Studio in Manila? How did the planning come about? </strong></div><p><strong>The White Rabbit Studio: </strong>I&#x27;ve always been into Chinese photography, especially the way photographers and makeup artists in China create immersive, story-driven portraits. I spent a lot of time studying those techniques and aesthetics on my own, and I realized that there is no studio in the Philippines offering that same authentic experience. I wanted to bring a one-stop photoshoot studio for people who want to have that same experience.</p><div><strong><br/></strong></div><div><strong>MS: Tell us about your team&#x27;s background. You mentioned you trained in China. Tell us more about that. </strong></div><p><strong>TWRS: </strong>Our team has dedicated years to studying Chinese photography, styling, and makeup techniques, and we’ve had the opportunity to train with professionals in China to better understand the artistry and attention to detail behind the style. One of our core team members is also from China, bringing first-hand cultural insight and authenticity to our creative process. Rather than simply recreating trends we see online, our goal has always been to understand the artistry behind them and thoughtfully adapt it for our clients in the Philippines.</p><div><br/></div><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib fr-rounded" style="width:800px;display:block" width="800"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1785741635673The White Rabbit Studio.jpg" style="width:800px" class="fr-fic fr-dib fr-rounded" width="800"/><span class="fr-inner">Photography, Makeup, Set Design by The White Rabbit Studio</span></span></span></div><p><strong>MS: </strong>Why is it called White Rabbit?
</p><p><strong>TWRS: </strong>I&#x27;ve always loved Alice in Wonderland, and the White Rabbit symbolizes stepping into another world. It also reminds us of the Jade Rabbit in Chinese folklore, making it a perfect name for a studio that brings imagination, artistry, and Chinese-inspired storytelling together.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>MS: What is Hanfu and what sets it apart from other concepts/themes? What defines Douyin makeup? </strong></div><p><strong>TWRS: </strong>Hanfu originally refers to the traditional clothing of the Han Chinese people, with roots dating back thousands of years. While the name comes from the Han Dynasty, today, the term is often used more broadly to include a wide range of traditional Chinese-inspired attire from different dynasties and styles, such as Tang, Song, Ming, Qing looks, as well as the qipao. Each style reflects different periods of Chinese history, craftsmanship, and aesthetics. </p><p>Douyin makeup, on the other hand, focuses on creating a soft, refined, and naturally radiant look. It&#x27;s known for luminous skin, delicate eye makeup, subtle contouring, and an overall polished appearance that photographs beautifully. It creates the signature aesthetic that many people recognize from Chinese social media and dramas; together with this from our studio, it generates unique, fashionable, creative, youthful photography.</p><div><strong><br/></strong></div><div><strong>MS: How do you come up with your themes for your clients? Do you collaborate with them for ideas? </strong></div><p><strong>TWRS: </strong>At first, I always brainstorm everything by myself or with my partner before we offer creative options for the clients. Every client has a different vision, so we always begin by understanding what they&#x27;re looking for. Some already have a specific concept in mind, so we have to tweak our existing themes a little, while others simply trust us to recommend something that suits them.</p><div><br/></div><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib fr-rounded" style="width:800px;display:block" width="800"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1785742011312The White Rabbit Studio 2.jpg" style="width:800px" class="fr-fic fr-dib fr-rounded" width="800"/><span class="fr-inner">Photography, Set Design, and Makeup by The White Rabbit Studio</span></span></span></div><div><strong>MS: Where do your props and costumes come from? </strong></div><p><strong>TWRS: </strong>We&#x27;ve spent a long time carefully building our collection to create an authentic experience. Some props are personally crafted by me. Our costumes and props are thoughtfully curated to match the quality and aesthetic that we&#x27;re known for.
We continuously expand and update our collection so clients always have something new to look forward to, while keeping some of our creative process exclusive to the studio.</p><div><strong><br/></strong></div><div><strong>MS: What sets The White Rabbit Studio apart from other concept studios in Manila?</strong></div><p><strong>TWRS: </strong>I think what sets The White Rabbit Studio apart is that we&#x27;re one of the first studios in Manila to specialize in Chinese Douyin-inspired portrait photography. Our focus has always been on Chinese Douyin aesthetics, unlike the traditional portrait artistry that we often see here in the Philippines. We don&#x27;t just provide costumes; we provide ALL IN packages for our concepts. We carefully bring together the styling, makeup, set design, lighting, posing, and editing to create a complete experience inspired by contemporary Chinese portrait photography. Moreover, this is something that you can do without having to overthink. You can simply book an appointment, walk in, and we&#x27;ll take care of everything. It&#x27;s a complete, one-stop experience that allows them to enjoy the creative process without the stress of planning every detail themselves.</p><div><br/></div><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib fr-rounded" style="width:800px;display:block" width="800"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1785742371349The White Rabbit Studio Hanfu.jpg" style="width:800px" class="fr-fic fr-dib fr-rounded" width="800"/><span class="fr-inner">Photography, Set Design, and Makeup by The White Rabbit Studio</span></span></span></div><div><strong><br/></strong><strong>MS: Please share your rates/packages and what we can look forward to in the future. </strong></div><p><strong>TWRS: </strong>We currently offer all-inclusive packages starting at Php 5,888, which include costumes, styling, makeup, props, guided posing, and professionally edited portraits.
In the future, we&#x27;re excited to introduce more seasonal and tiered concepts, exclusive costume collections, and new set designs as we continue bringing fresh Chinese-inspired photography experiences to the Philippines.</p><div><em><br/></em></div><div><em>Book your makeover today on The White Rabbit Studio&#x27;s </em><a href="https://www.instagram.com/thewhiterabbit.mnl" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>Instagram</em></a><em> or </em><a href="https://www.facebook.com/p/White-Rabbit-Studio-Makati-61582878331674/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>Facebook</em></a><em>. </em></div>

Experience a Hanfu Makeover in Manila—No Trip to China Needed

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Experience a Hanfu Makeover in Manila—No Trip to China Needed

Kate Paras-Santiago and Arci Claveria

Published August 03, 2026 03:00 PM PHT

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Updated August 03, 2026 03:45 PM PHT

Read More:

Beauty

Hanfu

Hanfu Makeover

Hanfu Transformation Shoot

The White Rabbit Studio Makati

Douyin Makeup

Chinese Drama Shoot

Hanfu Studio Makati

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