Haute Couture Makes A Stop In Tampa

Haute couture can be intimidating - not to mention, inaccessible.

Unless you're among the elite, or a Hollywood celeb, access to those exclusive white tents in New York is off-limits.

But the Ebony Fashion Fair, which made a stop at the Tampa Theatre on Sunday, mixes designer clothes with dancing, skits and humorous commentary to make high fashion accessible and realistic.

"I've been coming to the [Ebony Fashion Fair] since I was in my teens," said Naza Omerton, 32, of Clearwater. "I probably can't afford most of these clothes, but [Ebony Fashion the fair] gives me the opportunity to see clothes from world-famous designers that I would only be able to see in a magazine."

The fashion show is a high-energy, dazzling mix of vibrant hues, ornate fabrics and fabulous furs modeled by 12 black models - two of them men - that makes for a show that's part Broadway spectacle, part couture parade.

This year's show, titled "The Runway Report: What's Hip. What's Hot. What's Now!" featured the latest looks from some of the world's most famed designers, including Bill Blass, Rubin Singer, Christian LaCroix, Emanuel Ungaro and Vivienne Westwood.

The models strutted, danced and twirled across the stage in swimwear, resort outfits, evening wear and workplace attire.

There were lots of "oohs" and "ahhhs," screams of delight and applause from the audience, particularly when the male models worked the stage. That is, until one of them emerged wearing a jacket with multicolored tights and shoes; then you heard fits of laughter and whispers of, "Oh no he didn't."

And the fashions weren't just happening on stage. There were some lavish outfits off stage as well.
"You can never be too dressed up when you come to this show," said Kianna Williams, 34, of St. Petersburg, who wore a strapless red silk jumpsuit. "You see as many designer outfits on the stage as you do off stage."

Each year, the Ebony Fashion Fair benefits a local charity. This year's show benefited the Derrick Brooks Charities.