Some Like It Hot show brings soaring designs

WEDNESDAY, APR. 11: Lavish evening gowns with a modern edge stole the show at the Some Like It Hot fashion show on Friday evening.

The opening designer — Sidnie Co. Couture from Manchester UK — put the brash back to the ballgown and the pretty back into prom wear. Rich purple and deep mauve velvet corsets and top skirts blended effortlessly with trailing mesh underskirts exposing the legs up front.

The show, featuring international and local designers and models, was held at the Poinciana Ballroom at the Fairmont Southampton Resort.

The collections incorporated lots of floaty summer dresses, nautical themes, big hats and evening wear.

Also of note from the Sidnie collection was a unique collection of skirts and dresses with cartoon car prints and her African printed jackets and pants. Snazzy skirts and loud beachwear by Shay Ford and glitzy dresses and daring cuts from Thomas Lavonne also stood out.

The UK Sun’s celebrity photographer Dave Hogan snapped the guests as they arrived and mingled at the pre-show cocktail party.

Unfortunately there were not many guests to snap — there were perhaps 200 people, including Premier Paula Cox.

Maybe Bermudians are not feeling flush enough to splash out $100 for a ticket in this difficult economy. No doubt the event ran at a loss which is a great shame. Perhaps cheaper tickets, certainly for the seats further back in the auditorium, might have attracted more guests.

The timing of the show, organized by Mario Dismont under Spectrum Productions, was also questionable — most of us have had enough fun kite flying and partying on a Good Friday and an 8:30pm start fashion show might not be too high on the agenda.

The fact that the show started an hour late didn’t please those of us who did turn up. While the ballroom was near empty, there was still a lively atmosphere created by the few who were there.

The show was hosted by the feisty firecracker Phyllis Garraway who dared the audience to be sexy, confident and beautiful.

“If you can’t let your hair down,” she growled, “we say take it off!”

This is a great type of event for Bermuda and it’s a shame, for whatever reasons, more could not have experienced it.