By Alicia Roache, Staff ReporterTHE PRAISES for Guyanese designer Roger Gary abounded even before his dramatic presentation at Caribbean Fashionweek (CFW) on Friday. Some wondered what all the fuss was about. After all he was certainly not the only talented designer on the show that also featured Wayne Smith's Island Spice, Dawn Bacchus, Zadd and Eastman, Zero Gravity, Siim and Rhaj Paul.
HE CERTAINLY WAS NOT.
But after more than a few disappointing presentations by many of the designers on both Shows 1 and 2; the famed Gary was left with the dubious distinction of having to redeem the guests from mild boredom and the presentations from obscure references.
Added to the fact that he was the final presenter after a long night of sometimes forgettable presentations, and Gary's challenge was made even more daunting. Was he up to the challenge? He certainly was.
Gary's 2005 Spring/Summer collection was inspired by women in music (Chaka Khan, Sade, Beyonce, J.Lo, Gwen Stephanie-). Fittingly his designs featured lots of glam and glitter, sequins and lots of skin. He opened the collection with a glitter denim/ vinyl pants decked with silver stars and a cotton halter top which brought instant reaction from the guests. The 'rocker chic' image was further enhanced by a guitar, with which the model strutted down the runway. Each glitter blue or pink denim ensemble that followed was met with applause and animated reaction from the audience. The dramatic presentation continued with a pause in the show after the first few pieces of the collection, to which one woman, disappointed at the seeming premature end, questioned: "It finish aready?" No sooner had she uttered those words, than the second more glamorous part of the presentation got underway. Famed model Jaunel McKenzie strutted out in a layered green and turquoise jersey mini dress to instant applause. It seemed each outfit was more glamorous than the first. There were beautiful green or pink piaettes miniskirts and halters; and yellow and green crepe skirts which hung to the shoulder by a single strap, completed by green or purple tube tops. Chocolate glitter bikinis and mesh wraps were gorgeous and definitely unsuited for water. But perhaps the showstopper for the evening was the faux fur jackets and knitted evening gown combinations. The colour combinations of vivid green and pink, or red and orange jackets were dramatic and breathtaking. The audience was very appreciative and even the models seemed to revel in wearing the outfits.
From beginning to his final triumphant dance down the runway, Roger Gary showed, and proved, that he was indeed worth the wait and all the commendations.
