Kelly Rowland rocks CFW
THE hundreds of fashion fans who stayed until Sunday morning to see the performance by American pop singer Kelly Rowland at Caribbean Fashionweek (CFW) were not disappointed.
The former Destiny’s Child member, who was making her second appearance at CFW, delivered an entertaining 40-minute set.
Ditching her usual high-fashion garb for a more earthy, rude-girl look — black workman boots, leather overalls and a cheeky bustier — Rowland lit up the stage from her opener, the hip hop-flavoured Like This.
Accompanied by two male dancers, she had the National Indoor Sports Centre rocking to Dilemma and Lay It On Me, which was infused with Gyptian’s Hold Yuh.
The intensity rose when Rowland drew on tracks from her Destiny’s Child days. Independent Woman, Say My Name and Survivor were well received.
She wrapped her performance with the sultry Kiss On Me and Motivation.
It was definitely a case of better second time around as Rowland showed a greater level of confidence compared to her CFW debut.
Her performance followed an evening of fashion which saw more than 12 designers from Jamaica, the Eastern Caribbean and Africa presenting collections.
The standouts included Drenna Luna’s; all-white collection; a splash of colour from the normally monotone Barry Moncrieffe; Claudia Pegus, who returned to the CFW runway after a four-year hiatus as well as collections from Zimbabwe and Ethiopia.
Cheers and applause rang out for the debut of designer Kaysian Bourke’s Flower Child 1999 label.
An ecstatic Bourke told the Jamaica Observer she was thrilled with the reception to her pieces, which she described as retro. It recalls the free-spirited, flower child era of the 1960s.
And why 1999?
“That was the year I truly came into my own, and it’s also the year my brother died. I, therefore, see this year as being important from its tragedy and triumph,” Bourke explained.
The 13th CFW closed last night with more designer collections as well as the induction of models Jeneil Williams, Nell Robinson and Oraine Barrett into the Pulse Hall of Fame.
