CFW off to sizzling start
published: Sunday | June 13, 2004

By Chester Francis-Jackson, Gleaner Writer

CARIBBEAN FASHIONWEEK (CFW) 2004 got off to a sizzling start last week with a cocktail reception in the East Gardens of the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel.Dearhearts, we are talking one tsunami of fabulousness here, and hot like everybody's business.

Now, the East Gardens of the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel, is located just above the Olympic-sized swimming pool, and is one fabulous space. The attractiveness of the gardens made for a most welcoming atmosphere, and as such the perfect location for a reception.

Well, my dears, it was a garden fashion party and the fashionable and the not so fashionable were out. The fabulous and the not so fabulous, the chic, as well as the hot-to-trot, came from far and wide for the do and it made for one buzzing number.

Dears, with the gardens lavishly done-up with some three giant-sized food stations offering up some decidedly delicious nibbles; one mega-bar providing libations, and a battalion of staffers working the floor, pumpkins, we are talking one almighty happening affair here.

It was Emperor Nero, who once said 'it must either be spectacular, or a spectacle', and dovecakes, this was all that and then some. As was to be expected, not only was the event one hot parade of personalities, there were also a number of simply eye-catching, head-turning ensembles being sported by some of the lassies present. Some outfits would give even Dancehall Queen Carlene occasion to blush. And, my dears, then there were the models.

Pumpkins, ladies with attitudes, men buffed to Adonis-like perfection, lassies lounging like nymphets and off course, the starry-eyed newcomers to the world of high-glam, glitz and style ­ all competing for centrestage. My dears, it made for a cauldron. And we are talking something fierce here, as indeed this was fashion's prime time, and the contenders were not about to take prisoners, or worse yet, allow themselves, to be taken prisoners. And so, the heat was on.

Well luvs, it stayed on and reached boiling point, spilling over into one hot dance-a-thon, after masterful musical performances by the group Morgan's Heritage and budding singing sensation, Kris-Kelli. Kelli is the hot new talent, currently causing the music industry, music lovers and critics, to sit up and take notice.

Among those spotted were Technology Minister Phillip Paulwell; Opposition MP Mike Henry and his lovely wife Dawn Chambers; Ambassador of the Russian Federation Edward Malayan; Ambassador Peter King; Honorary Consul General of Lithuania Lois Sherwood; Honorary Consul of Belgium, Robert Cartade; Mediamix honcho Lennie Little-White; noted Queen's Counsel and founding director of Pulse, the charming Hillary Phillips; Dr. Bernard and Andrea Benjamin; Guerney Beckford; Pat Francis and her lovely daughter; hotelier James Samuels; Diane Wynter; Professor Cecil Gutzmore and wife Dr. Carolyn Cooper; the lovely Dr. Saphire Longmore; Washington-based attorney Donette Cooper; Carlene MaxBrown, looking as fabulous as ever; her stunning daughter Sophia MaxBrown and sibling Carlos MaxBrown; Peter Couch and his oh-so-talented wife, songbird Susanne Couch; the lovely and spirited designer and Reggae-To-Wear Founder, Vanessa Taylor; famed photographer Ken Ramsay; the beautiful Kimberly Mais-Issa; the charming Carmen Patterson; the oh-soooo gorgeous Louise Finnegan; Mr. and Mrs. Fred Lusan; the lovely Nancy Burke; Vera Ennis; the lovely Marilyn Bennett; Daphne Tyrell; Tom Desulme; the oh-so lovely Rowena Minott; designer Michelle Haynes; Sharon Beckford, she looking as hot as ever; Junior and Sandy McGregor; the lovely Christine Straw; the oh-so-charming and beautiful Vivette Miller-Thwaites; Scott Campbell in from New York and had the ladies' heads turning in his wake; the lovely Crystal Harris; Charl Baker; hot international model of the season Nadine Willis; Danny Champagnie and his army of bodyguards; hot new male modeling sensation Kirk Drady; the beautiful Natasha Francis-Cunningham; Diane Anderson; NY-based international fashion photographer Joseph Cartright; Michael Ryan, owner of the hot Blue Agency Showroom in NY; and the smashing Romae Gordon, who coordinated and co-produced the event; plus scores more fashion designers, models, buyers; and fashion bessies, all making for a fabulous outing.

What a night! One dare say the purr-fect way to launch Caribbean Fashion Week 2004!