Luxurious escape
Published:Sunday | January 9, 2011 | 12:00 AM
Janet Silvera, Senior Gleaner Writer
WESTERN BUREAU:
Local designers Pablo Palair, Candace Peart, Uzuri, Ernesto Castro and Julan were on par with their international counterparts Island Company, Josa Tulum, Sankyle Couture and DeBernard Mas at the Ritz-Carlton's 'Escape to Luxury Couture' on Thursday, December 30.
With a tag line that read 'where shooting stars get over their shyness', the only positions left on the lawns of the elegant resort were kept for designers with the gift of boldness, creativity and inimitability.
The Ritz was out to showcase the de la crème of fashion to discerning guests and their corporate retail buyer for some 27 stores worldwide, and Stuart-Wayne Douglas and his team weren't even prepared to call the event a fashion show. "It's Escape to Luxury Couture," Douglas coyly insisted in his invitation to the Outlook team.
And that's exactly what it was. Of course, the stage could have been wider and longer and the presentations much shorter, but those who came out on the eve of New Year's Eve were fed enough style to last them for the entire year.
"Ideally, this was more like creating a unique experience for the guests," says Shannon Walton who purchases clothing for the Ritz-Carlton stores worldwide.
And with or without Walton's blessings, designers such as Castro, Uzuri and Pablo Palair came prepared to entice the feasting eyes. Theirs was different, fresh and breathtaking.
Candace Peart and Alison Hurt swimsuits were Caribbean, while Island Company from the United States of America and Josa Tulum of Canada did not disappoint.
The event was supported by fashion houses Cinderella Hats, Something New, Voilà and Déjà vu, with some of the most beautiful pieces of jewellery from the Tropicana Jewellers, The Royal Shops and Casa De Oro.
Escape to Luxury attracted partners Flow, MACO Magazine, J.Wray & Nephew and Tai Flora Luxe with proceeds going towards the SOS Children's Village.
Photos by Janet Silvera