Gen Art's support of emerging fashion talent culminates each year with the Fresh Faces in Fashion event, held poolside once again this year at the Doubletree Surfcomber Hotel. As the lights dimmed, the show started—not with models walking the runway, but with synchronized swimmers from Dolphinettes of Miami, who slid into the pool and performed a routine set to a mix of cheery 1950's-style tunes and modern beats. "We wanted to have an element of surprise since we were having the event at the same location as last year's," said Monica Glass, Gen Art's regional manager. With the help of Cece Feinberg Public Relations, more than 1,000 unsuspecting guests delighted in the nod to Esther Williams' Million Dollar Mermaid.Models eventually made it onto the runway, which was also different this year. Because the Doubletree had just resurfaced the pool, the hotel's general manager didn't want poles (needed to support a typical runway) to be used in it. With little more than a month left till the event, Alain Perez of EventStar, who supplied tent space for the models to dress, came up with a system that rigged poles across the width of the pool, similar to a suspension pole used for shower curtains. The 47- by 30-foot runway was designed in a zigzag pattern that models carefully maneuvered to avoid a quick dip into the pool. New Image Productions provided audiovisual support and helped coordinate the show, which featured the fashions of six designers from Miami and New York.
Three accessory designers showcased their work in separate vignettes along the walkway leading to the pool area. None used the conventional jewelry-behind-a-glass-box method, opting for a fashionable alternative. Patricia Costa of Costa Jewelry Design displayed her dazzling creations in a glamorous lounge setting complete with gorgeous models and a butler who "served" the jewelry on a silver platter. Lauren Carina used a row of dolled-up mannequins dripping with her precious and semi-precious gemstones, while Jennifer Zeuner hung her butterfly-inspired collection from tree branches.
—Vanessa Goyanes
Photos: Tom Grizzle/Richard Patterson
Three accessory designers showcased their work in separate vignettes along the walkway leading to the pool area. None used the conventional jewelry-behind-a-glass-box method, opting for a fashionable alternative. Patricia Costa of Costa Jewelry Design displayed her dazzling creations in a glamorous lounge setting complete with gorgeous models and a butler who "served" the jewelry on a silver platter. Lauren Carina used a row of dolled-up mannequins dripping with her precious and semi-precious gemstones, while Jennifer Zeuner hung her butterfly-inspired collection from tree branches.
—Vanessa Goyanes
Photos: Tom Grizzle/Richard Patterson