ELEANOR DOUGLAS-MEYERS
When Micayla Lee belted out the Whitney Houston classic I’m Every Woman, she couldn’t have chosen a more fitting song for what unfolded on the runway at Braemore Lundall-Sauls’ ECLIPSE fashion extravaganza on Saturday, 10 October. Although, in this case, we might need to add every man to that statement too.
Because if there was one thing this show made clear, it was that fashion really is for everybody.
Models of different heights, sizes and genders took to the runway at the Boardwalk ICC, proving that style, confidence and a fabulous outfit have absolutely nothing to do with fitting a particular mould.
And honestly, it was wonderful to see.
Where do you even look?
When I interviewed Braemore ahead of the event for our People of the Bay series, he warned me that audiences wouldn’t know where to look.
He wasn’t kidding.
Even I, with my notoriously short attention span, found myself wishing everyone would just stand still for a second so I could take it all in.
There was ballet, aerial artistry from Artemis Aerial Art, hip-hop, incredible fashion and performances from talents including Miss A and Shuling Sing-Lee Lindoor.
And, in one of the evening’s more unexpected moments, a beautiful model casually walked a car as though it were a puppy.
Yes, you read that correctly.
It was bold, theatrical and wonderfully over the top, but somehow it all worked.
This wasn’t simply a fashion show with a little entertainment thrown in between collections. The entertainment was part of the experience, with something happening in practically every direction.
The beauty teams understood the assignment
Of course, the fashion wasn’t the only thing deserving of attention.
The Woolworths beauty team outdid themselves with runway makeup looks that ranged from beautiful and wearable to dramatic, editorial creations that belonged under the spotlight.
And then there was the hair.
The hairstyling talent, including teams from Serenity Hair PE, Hair & Skin Care, Lavish Hair Studio and Vinny Langford, alongside independent stylists, went all out.
There were avant-garde creations that were practically works of art in their own right, with some hairstyles threatening to steal the show entirely.
But what I particularly loved was the balance. Alongside the more theatrical hairstyles were gorgeous special-occasion looks that complemented the dresses perfectly, proving that sometimes the hair needs to make a statement and sometimes it needs to let the outfit do the talking.
Either way, the beauty teams certainly weren’t playing it safe.
A celebration of the Bay’s creative talent
What made ECLIPSE particularly special was the sheer variety of people, styles and performances brought together under one creative vision.
It wasn’t about one particular body type, one definition of beauty or even one idea of what a runway show should look like.
There was room for everyone.
And while the clothes were undoubtedly a major attraction, the evening also showcased just how much creative talent exists right here in Nelson Mandela Bay.
From the performers and models to the makeup artists, hairstylists and everyone working behind the scenes, ECLIPSE was a reminder of what our local creative industry can produce when given the opportunity to do something extraordinary.
As we reported in the lead-up to ECLIPSE, the production brought together local businesses and supporters, including Woolworths, Kelston Motor Group and the Boardwalk ICC, showing what is possible when the business and creative communities come together.
Braemore promised a spectacle, and he delivered
In our earlier coverage of ECLIPSE, Braemore spoke about creating something bigger than a traditional runway show, an experience that would bring fashion, performance and creative expression together.
And having now seen it for myself, I can safely say he delivered.
Fourteen years after first challenging the Bay’s expectations of a fashion show with Luce della Moda, Braemore has once again shown that he isn’t particularly interested in doing things the conventional way.
And thank goodness for that.
ECLIPSE wasn’t just a fashion show. It was a full-scale production, a celebration of individuality and quite possibly one of the most memorable fashion events Nelson Mandela Bay has seen.
One for the history books, indeed.
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