ACF Fashion Weekend Report: Caribbean Catwalk Hits & Misses

Absolut Caribbean Fashion Weekend (ACF), Caribbean Catwalk night, showcased talented designers from across the region, whose works consisted of some FABULOUS designs, coupled with a few near misses as well as a few total disasters. Amidst it all, designer Claudia Pegus' pieces stole the spotlight last Sunday. She wowed the audience with her Tribute To Michelle Obama line, inspired by the fashion sense of America's First Lady herself. It was a definite hit amongst the audience and fashion media. (Photography by Logan Thomas)

Model Imogen, wearing a fabulous fuchsia dress from Claudia Pegus' line

Model Shani, wearing the Claudia Pegus show-stopper of the line, Tribute To Michelle Obama.

Winner of America's Next Top Model cycle 11, McKey Sullivan, rocking it in a Claudia Pegus piece

Queen Esther, from St. Lucia, was another crowd pleaser with her Kuumba Designs, showing many fresh, innovative ways to design, create and wear clothing strictly from white cloth. This, in my opinion, is VERY hard to pull off, as the preceding designer hailing from Trinidad & Tobago, Shawn Griffith Perez, failed at his attempt to achieve the same effect. Don’t get me wrong! Some of his white pieces were beautiful, just very few! And his tie-dye pieces were HORRENDOUS!

International Canadian top model Simone Small, donning a fabulous piece by Queen Esther

Model Kenyah, wearing Kummba Designs by Queen Esther.

Model Nia, wearing a DISGUSTING dress by Shawn Griffith Perez

Sedia, wearing a HOT dress by Shawn Griffith Perez

Heather Jones... hmm... colourful, VERY colourful, very Caribbean-inspired. I liked it for the most part but some of her pieces were just WAY over the top, and not in a good way (as pictured below)!

Heather Jones' show-stopper, worn by McKey Sullivan

Model Orchid, wearing a beautiful Heather Jones piece

Heather Jones' piece - eww...

Heather Jones' piece - hot!!

Kimya Glasgow and Kimon Baptiste were also featured on the Caribbean Catwalk night. Special runway appearances were made by America's Next Top Model winner McKey Sullivan and international Canadian top model Simone Small.

ACF Fashion Weekend was held at the Fairmont Royal Pavillion, St James, Barbados. There were three nights for different showings. The designers were categorized by region: Barbados Night – Sweet Fah Dayse Catwalk, International Couture Night and Caribbean Catwalk, Friday, Saturday and Sunday respectively.

Favourites of the weekend were Claudia Pegus, Pat Blackman, Kuumba Designs, Jewel Shannon and Kimya Glasgow. Other participating designers were either disappointing or fell short of average, or just plain old boring, has-been stuff. Sorry, I like to be honest :P

Check out more of the outfits featured on the catwalk below. (Move mouse over white bar to expand and press the arrow button to start slideshow.)