Miami FASHIONscape

Apr 9, 2009 by Chaunielle Brown

Guests stepped into the looking glass and crossed under the leafy arched threshold as they fell into Miami FASHIONscape’s wonderland, presented by Gen Art and befittingly assembled at the ethereal Delano Orchard and Pool in South Beach on April 14.

A gleaming gala event spotlighted Miami’s inventive fashion designers as they transcended the uniformed runway strut with sporadic live model vignettes in featured installations. Designers Claudiae and the John David Collection acquainted an expected gallery of guests with their mental map abstractions.

The sounds of DJ Ryan Evans echoed through the imaginative garden-like framework, spinning the lyrics of pop artist Britney Spears’ “Circus”: “There’s only two types of people in this world, the ones that entertain and the ones that observe.”

I was merely steps away from the John David Collection where an ensemble of onlookers, photographers and designer John David himself surrounded the cubed geometric vignette. Live models arrayed in a neutral blushed tone posed with minimal movement as the musical format complemented the fierce flickering flashes of photographers.

I soaked in the evening’s illustration about me; semi-circled cut trees painted the scene conveying a recollection of polished Renaissance courts, social sets allured the eyes with noteworthy dress and air and closely situated to the first, Claudiae set its own stage with Japanese themed geishas. Detailed and expressive, Ecuadorian creator Claudia Estrada of Claudiae captivated observers with an enhanced view of her vision. With studies in Italy and a graduate of Miami’s own Miami International University, Estrada presented fresh bright hues in soft silky fabrics. Live models adorned the setting with customary geisha façade and demeanor. It was an accessorized ring with Wagasas (traditional Japanese umbrellas), a centered table covered with candles and teatime arrangements while cherry blossom flowers swayed through the trees.

A merry flavor kissed the air, with smiles and laughter, a continuous play of socialization and an artistic and inspired fragrance of style.

Lighting intensified the mood as allegro musical notes resonated and magnified; it was an unlisted active vignette of attending guest players who each communicated their own fashionable character interpretations. A merry flavor kissed the air, with smiles and laughter, a continuous play of socialization and an artistic and inspired fragrance of style. The entire evening and its participants were a display and when the average 20-minute vignette session paused for dress change, the social crowd took lead.

Although the mini intermissions lingered, the evening was sustained through DJ Ryan Evan’s flux of music, guests’ dashing dress and the airy tone of the Delano’s pool area, cleverly decorated with an ornately framed mirror propped on a slant against tree with a tipping lamp stand, along with the wonder-like mad hatter chair.

I envisioned the evening to feature a cluster of vignettes distanced among the grounds. With the present two holding the attention, I was left pining for more visions to be told. Possibly silent scenes with suggestive and stirring clips could have refined the still-framed duo vignettes.

Still, the night was rousing and I fluttered in awe. Artistically stimulated,Miami FASHIONscape was replete with a mood altering brisk of fashion freedom and bliss. A different accent on fashion’s expression and a presentation of Miami’s modern designers, the event gave something back as I departed: a bleeding imagination of possibilities.

 

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By Chaunielle Brown