It’s minutes after nine last Saturday night and BB?Fashion Week (BBFW) has two more designers to showcase their Spring/Summer 2014 collections.
And there I am, having covered quite a few fashion collections here and some in Jamaica, in awe of and in lust for many of the pieces I saw this night.
The Caribbean is a potpourri of talent. Further evidence: Anthony Red Fashion House and Dawn’s Creations brought urban and couture. The menswear can easily translate into feminine pieces. Three piece suits, those white jackets, the black embossed and deep brown jacquard jackets can be in both wardrobes.
While some pieces seemed out of place in the collections, the deep V-necks and deep V-backs would need some readjusting if they were to be sutiable for a boardroom or workplace but they were fabulous pieces on their own. Highlight? Two must-have red dresses. Fabulous.
The high low hems on the grey skirt suits would fit into a magazine publishing company but not a mainstream business in conservative corporate Barbados, but you can rock them at a work function like an awards show. Fabrics were repeated in the collections in either a top or bottom on separate pieces.
For the most part, the cut, fabric and tailoring, (especially loved the buttons on the jackets) were like pieces seen in high fashion brand houses.
For me, Kymstic Designs rocked the tent that night. She had the most cohesive collection and the most wearable and sensible pieces.
Fashion is feisty, fierce, cool, daring, shocking and thrilling when you do it right, and Ms K. Baptiste had all that. Polka dots, prints, flared skirts, halter pants suit, short black dresses with flared sleeves and green inset fabric. Wonderful.
All sorts of greens, orange, yellow, rompers, shorts, pants, bejewelled necklines on a couple pieces, and the oohs and ahhs came for the green pageant gown that was a litle daring as it was see-through. It is not for the faint-hearted.
Also showing on the night were Kesia Estwick’s edgy KISS line and Sea Reinas exciting swimwear.
On an end note, while most of the BBFW pieces were not for everyone in terms of sizes, there were some pieces that could transition off the runway.
Many of the pieces were dresses and I’m sure you can get the designer to tailor to suit your body type. I am saying this for some of the attendees who wore dresses that were not appropriate for their body types.
I love dressses and love experimenting. Style is about experimenting but it’s also about knowing your body and what fits you. A white polka dot dress on celebrity designer Victoria Beckham will look different on Rihanna or even model Heidi Klum.
When you go shopping for pieces, you should want to take risks and try something different. But keep in mind that while you are being inspired by others, try not to wriggle your way into something that isn’t right for you.
Many fashionistas have used the saying “no pain no gain” but a size 6 dress wasn’t made for a size 10 person.
Be truthful to yourself. Find dresses or items, for that matter, that fit your body type and you are most of all comfortable in.
