“Could we get somethin’ to driiiiink... we’re thirssssty!” I looked under my champagne flute, only to find a bevy of cherubic little flower girls, looking up at me.
Before I could say anything ( and goodness knows I didn’t have an answer for the little spokesperson for the group and giving her my champagne was clearly NOT an option), someone quipped up ‘There’s stuff for you all inside, come along this way!”.
It’s no wonder they were thirsty; I got to the Heather Jones (HJ) 2008 Wedding Gown Fashion Show early, and for literally a solid hour, the flower girls were “practising their walk” up and down the red carpet catwalk. Well, except for one candidate in ivory, who was clutching mommy for dear life and absolutely refused to sashay!
Anyway, I was ushered into the reception area, where for the next 2 hours, I was the figurative bug on the wall (ok, bug on a green couch) getting a coveted behind-the scenes look at things. The female models - cool as cucumbers, were floating about, chatting and laughing and might I say looking gorgeous in every-day clothes. A grey-haired lady who I gathered was the scheduler and perhaps the chief “dresser” was going over the ramp order and wading through dozens and dozens of gowns on racks, another lady was sorting out accessories for each model, and of course, miscellaneous vendors, male models, photographers, videographers, media folks, the show’s producers, HJ staff and volunteers were constantly milling in and about the area.
Truthfully, I was dying to jump in and help with just about anything (because after we set up the TW table, with our promo cards, we were back to being bugs on the green couch again) But mostly I was eager to help because, as my close friends will tell you, I am a total fashion junkie. I just love the stuff. It’s so pathetic to admit this but starting from when I was about 14, I had a collection of “style files”, well, that sounds mighty grand but all it was were clippings and articles on fashion and clothing and fabric samples in a few, neatly-labelled manila folders. So you could just imagine how over the moon I was that TW was involved in the show!
Anyway, right after the wait staff passed around the yummies ( those puffs, mini accras and bouchees were the bomb) the show started with none other than my little acquaintances ( yes…those flowers girls, now fully hydrated) throwing rose petals down the catwalk, amidst “oohs” and “awws” from the audience.
They were followed by about 10 “grooms” (why did they look so sombre? I wanted to whisper to them. “It’s pretend guys, you’re not really getting married, no need to get the heeby jeebies) and then came what everyone was there to see…the gowns. And believe me, they kept a-coming! There were a lot, perhaps about 40 gowns came down that runway, which I’m sure was far more than most people thought they would have seen.
Most of the dresses were variations on traditional styles but of course there were quite a few unconventional ones as well. I have to give you the dish on my faves though.
There was a white strapless gown, with an encrusted, slightly scalloped bodice and a fabulous rum-pink sash with a brooch that I loved. Also, top local model (and former Ms. T&T) Lisa Marie Guevara wore an elegant white column dress, with a plunging gathered neckline that was breathtaking. If I remember correctly, it got the loudest applause of the evening. Another local model, La Toya Woods (by the way, I think she’s a star and definitely destined for Europe’s catwalks) looked stunning in a retro halter-styled gown in duchess satin.
La Toya also modelled a flowing, hand dyed yellow silk, print dress that may be perfect for a bride having a tropical themed wedding or a bridesmaid at an outdoor wedding. The dress though is not for the faint of heart, the front is extremely low with a tiny cross-strap and the back is pretty much open, with a huge key-hole, so you gotta be fit to wear that one!
The finale was a voluminous, black bridal ballgown, accompanied with red netting, again modelled to pefection by La Toya. This unfortunately was when my camera battery chose to die (drat), so I only got pics of 2 black bridesmaid dresses. Anyway, after the show and after much mingling, it was time to go and head back to the real world, and as I walked into the house, there was my sweet toddler saying “Mamaaaa… Mamaaaa” and doing her own sashay up the corridor in her cute pink onesie and white sandals…A perfect ending to the day.
To see more of the photos we took at the show, check this link from our I LOVE TrinidadWeddings.com Facebook group: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=10046451081
