Guests at the annual Ebony Fashion Fair have come to expect a style extravaganza of dancing, preening, vamping models wearing couture creations of designers from around the world.
The 800 people who packed the Marriott City Center ballroom Sunday afternoon were treated to such fashion theater – from ostrich feather gowns to second-skin cat suits topped with fur jackets – as the 47th-annual Ebony Fashion Fair came to town to raise money for The Links Inc. Denver chapter. Links supports the African-American community through a variety of programs.
The theme, “Living It Up,” was an apt one given the fanciful creations by Oscar de la Renta, Dolce & Gabbana and Christian Lacroix, to name a few, displayed on the runway during the two-act show. A leopard print sequin dress with a sexy cutout in the front or a shimmery dress with matching polka dot feather coat are the kind of clothes meant to be worn to parties, not to the supermarket. Even the “Hip-Hop Blues” scene featured jeweled denim rather than standard-issue urban jeans.
In two acts of four scenes each, the show covered everything from beachwear and cocktail clothes to a pantsuit or two that could be worn to a business meeting.
The Fashion Fair cast was a little leaner than in years past, with only one male model instead of two onstage, and one of the female models, Corene Stewart, filling in for regular commentator Jada Jackson Collins. But they are such professionals, and have done the show so many times – it will visit 180 cities this year – the production went off without a hitch.
And the mostly female audience lavished applause on the lone male model, Ronnel Blackmon, as he modeled everything from a three-piece business suit to a skimpy bathing suit.
“It’s as much a theatrical show as a fashion show,” said Kathryn Kaiser, a regular at benefit shows around town. “The models are like actors. And I like the fact that they have a plus-size model, although she looks pretty trim.”
People expect to see a lot of outrageous clothing, but the runway had many wearable styles this year as well, said Sherry Jackson, president of the the Denver Links chapter.
“It isn’t easy keeping the attention of so many people, but look around this room,” Jackson said as she watched the final scene, a procession of bridesmaids, a bride and groom. “No one goes home early.”
Staff writer Suzanne S. Brown can be reached at 303-820-1697 or sbrown@denverpost.com.
