Style Week Jamaica 2011

So while Caribbean Fashion Week 2011 is all but history now, model agency competitors Saint International recently wrapped up their version of fashion week last Sunday. Initially it had started about a week before CFW, but due to some recent rains, the final show, Fashion Block, was postponed till a further date. Usually the whole thing is kicked off with the mens shows, but seeing that I was way too late for that to have captured any real images, here's everything else that happened.

Kevin O'Brian

Based in Paris, couturier and close friend, Kevin O'Brian's collection (naturally, a highlight of the night dubbed, "International Mecca of Style") was all about couture elements augmented with dramatic head-pieces and such. Having worked closely with him before the show in helping to sequence and style the collection, (along with stylist Michael Atkinson) the quality of the pieces was exquisite; O'Brian's design aesthetic is second to none.

LaQuan Smith

US-based designer, and designer to young style icons such as Lady Gaga and Rihanna, presented his "Hard Candy" collection, inclusive of the gold body suit Rih rocked in the video for her smash hit, "Rude Boy." I have to admit that I liked the colours and use of neoprene-y fabrics through-out, even though I thought the collection was a bit bare at times.

Donovan DePass

I'm always excited when Donovan tells me he'll be showing a collection in Jamaica, as one of those designers lucky enough to have worked with a few important New York designers, (Vera Wang chief among these) he's actually pretty good at what he does. This collection didn't really have a theme, or at least one that I could quickly gauge, but there was definitely a punk edge to a few of the pieces. There were a few gowns here and there, and even a Greek goddess kinda silhouette, but I have a feeling Donovan's main focus was a 90's-esque insistence on asymmetrical cuts. 

Now onto Fashion Block. For those of you who don't know what that is, it's an annual event held here in the streets of Kingston's central business district. (And sometimes in second city Montego Bay.) A 100 foot cat-walk is mounted in the middle of the road, serving fashion a crowd sometimes as large as 50,000.
Here's what I captured:

The running order

Runway all set up 

Last minute hair and make-up

Reve Jewelry designers, Duane and Tesea

Designs from Shades of Africa

The girls, clad in designs by Gregory Williams, (who created pieces out of Soldanza, who was a main sponsor for the show, potato chips bags and even the chips themselves) make a final walk

Shena Moulton (who might I add, just walked for Christian Dior's Fall 2011 Haute Couture's collection yesterday) strikes a pose backstage 

Saint International C.E.O. Deweight Peters sends his girls on

Designs by Rick B's from his "Code Red" collection