Bombay Dreams 4: The finale

As I walked under the glaring red canopy I knew exactly how I would write this. Bombay Dreams was undoubtedly living up to its title. Soothing breathy music of a bansuri glided easily on the air, thick with the  flooding aroma of warm Indian spices. The dim saffron candlelight blanketed the scene with a veil of etherealness. Women quickly filled up the room, all glittering elaborately in traditional Asian draped styles. I lapped it all up like Panchamrita.

I sat lonely at Table 22, eagerly anticipating the show. After schmoozing with familiar faces, I sat down to welcome the show's opening. Tassa drums echoed from the outside halls and soon filled our room. A lineup of musicians and crimson clad dancers then filtered through the aisles and to the stage, covering their heads with tremendously ornate umbrellas. Let it begin!

I said before that I knew how I would write this. I even wrote in my notes "Write the article describing the event as though it were a dream". I was so taken by the decor that looked made this often transformable Hilton Ballroom look like it did that way for decades. I came for the designers, but was so easily distracted by the intoxicating ambiance and heart warming story of the whole thing, that I found fashion secondary. Then Peter Elias sent his collection down and I remembered why I was there!

Fashion shows in Trinidad are a very sobering thing. The hype and anticipation always have you looking forward to them, then some stupidness gets sent down the runway and you wonder what possessed you to spend shoe money on this crap. Bombay Dreams was not like that. It was extremely well organised and went on smoothly. Perhaps with the filtering of designers to only the most experienced names (minus Meiling who sadly did not take part this year) helped contribute to the quality of the production. Peter's work was floaty, bright and beautiful as always, but it wasn't anything new. I've seen him mix prints and combine Caribbean with Tribal and Safari enough times to know he can. The models looked flawless and seemed to feel fabulous in his styles.

Claudia Pegus was next. Woo papa. Now, I have great admiration for this woman. I worked with her before on a show, and I always tell the story of how she heroically stitched a falling hem on a giant tulle skirt as it was being walked out to the stage. Her strength and savvy overcome her tiny facade. She rocks. HOWEVER, that which she sent down the runway yesterday, calling "Ganges meets the Nile" was clearly not a Collection, but instead a collection of mismatched styles that may have been sitting in her showroom for seasons. Ryan Chan is calling his collection "Psycho Diary", but I feel like the title would have been more fitting here. I was overwhelmed by feathers and sequins and trains, oh my! Not to mention the extreme over-styling of all that glitters, sparkling from every nook and cranny on those poor models. The catastrophic Oktoberfest creations which graced the Miss TnT Universe contestants made another appearance, feather boa and all. It wasn't all bad though, there were some definitely beautiful looks in the mix! I like when she went for the bright hues of yellow undertones on sheers. Would be gorgeous on many women. Also, when done in moderation, her beading was exquisite. A bit of editing could have made this work, but as is, eek. (See my Instagram pics and videos @stephanieramlogan)

Now I'm not a flower painting kind of girl, so Heather Jones has never been a fave of mine. I sure ate my words last night. Her Collection was the stand-out for me. Again, as with all shows I see here, some editing would have helped, but overall, the way the fabrics hovered on the air was enchanting. The pieces were exquisitely constructed, incorporating contemporary cuts and silhouettes with her traditional hand painting techniques. I especially loved the sheer embroidered leggings, which resembled something I loved from Antonio Berardi Spring 2012. The way Athalia Samuel moved in her white gown looked like a sequence under water. The slow fluttering of these fluid fabrics really added to the dream-like feel of the whole night. I heard the Collection is sold in Japan. Hope I don't have to go that far for a piece of the action!

 

I wore select pieces from my mom's Bridal Indian Jewellery, a simple Black t-shirt from Calvin Klein and Emerald taffeta wrap trousers from Adrian Foster.