A wet snow was falling outside, but that didn’t keep a crowd of 840 from enjoying a parade of sundresses and Bermuda shorts inside the Marriott City Center at the recent Brass Ring Fashion show.
It helped that the show featured smiling, ponytailed models swinging down the runway to the accompaniment of tunes by Etta James and Ray Charles, and that eight handsome male models joined the dozen female ones in showing off the clothes.
Retailers Lawrence and Cathy Covell produced Thursday’s show and handpicked 87 spring 2006 outfits from their favorite European and American collections, including Luciano Barbera, Paul Smith, Etro, Moschino and Marc Jacobs. The styles ranged from casual sportswear to cocktail dresses and business suits.
“We’ve been getting boxes and boxes from Italy and New York,” Cathy Covell said before the show. Helping put together the lineup was the Covells’ son, Joe, and his wife, Amy, who joined the models in the traditional parade on the runway at the close of the show, which benefits the Children’s Diabetes Foundation at Denver and the Denver Nuggets Community Fund.
As butternut squash soup and Tuscany chicken were served, patrons ticked off their their favorites from the fashion show. Cheri Meagher, who will chair the Brass Ring event next year, said she loved the sundresses although she joked she would need to lose 20 years and as many pounds to fit into some of the skimpy looks worn by the sylphlike models. Her sister Holly Fasold said she was thinking about adding some of the empire-waist tops to her wardrobe.
Windi Phelps liked the dresses with exposed petticoats that lent fullness to the silhouettes. “I thought they were sassy and fun,” she said.
Phelps was accompanied by friend and neighbor Kristi Mathieson, and both said that while they don’t usually start thinking about spring clothes so far in advance, they found ideas in the show to put on their shopping lists.
Mary Anne Keyte had her eye on a paisley print shirt dress by Barbera, while Valere Shane liked a black-and-ivory cocktail style from Moschino.
Men got into the spirit too. Matt Meagher said he would pass on the slim, Euro-cut pants and jackets, but added, “I could see wearing any of the suits.”
Staff writer Suzanne S. Brown can be reached at 303-820-1697 or sbrown@denverpost.com.
