Islands Of The World Fashion Week 2010-Day One: Jay McCarroll Fashion Show and Much More!

Project Bahamas...

Triumphant Walk: Jay McCarroll takes his bow with model in tow at Islands of The World Fashion Week 2010 (photo courtesy of Lyndah Welles)

After I arrived in The Bahamas--to GORGEOUS weather BTW (thank you Weather Gods!)--we settled in, got to rest my weary jet-lagged head and attended the Exclusive Bahamas Screening of Project Runway Season One Winner Jay McCarroll's Documentary "Eleven Minutes" on "Arrival Day".

Island Fashionistas: Tomas Frenes, Vice President of Mode Isles/Islands of The World Fashion Week, David Paul and Nick Verreos, Designers NIKOLAKI

The following night was the real First Night--dubbed "Runway 1"-- of Runway Shows for the 2010 Edition of Islands of The World Fashion Week at the divine British Colonial Hilton.

The night began with a fiery and very sexy Opening Performance/Dance Number by Bahamas Dance Troupe "Silk and Steel" highlighting the Island Carnival Flavor (above photo).

Bag Crazy: Models show Harl Taylor BAG designs, Islands of The World Fashion Week 2010

This was soon followed by fashion shows from several Island designers including these gorgeous bags from Harl Taylor BAG from The Bahamas. Models sauntered in various colored catsuits but the fabulous straw bags--in all shapes and sizes--were the stars. They were adorned with gorgeous Mother of Pearl, seashells, gemstones and hand-carved Bahamian mahogany accents. In addition, there was also a sexy swimsuit runway show from ICandy Swimwear, designed by Margot Ga.

Catwalk Divas: Jay McCarroll's models take their final walk at Islands of The World Fashion Week 2010 (Photo courtesy of Lyndah Wells)

A definite highlight of this first night of runway shows at Islands of The World Fashion Week 2010 was Debut Presentation of Jay McCarroll's Spring 2011 Collection. He had not shown a full collection, well, since the one documented in "Eleven Minutes" so the anticipation was palpable in the capacity-filled Runway "tent" at the Hilton. It was well worth the wait: The clothes were gorgeous!

Violet Queen: Model wearing Jay McCarroll Spring 2011, Islands of The World Fashion week 2010

The Collection was SOOOO Jay McCarroll: The brightly hued colors, the simple sheath shapes turned complex with intricate seaming and fun details such as his "Jay" circles. The models were STUNNING and fabulously styled by the designer himself, down to last purse and shoe detail...

Caribbean Neon: Model in Jay McCarroll Spring 2011, Islands of The World Fashion Week 2010 (Photo Courtesy of Lyndah Wells)

Speaking of shoes, the models platform heels were covered with colored socks found THE DAY OF THE SHOW, in a Bahamas Outdoors Market (Love that!).

Click Below to watch the Finale of Jay McCarroll's Spring 2011 Collection:

The Rest of "Runway Day 1", at Island of The World Fashion Week 2010:

Bahamas Reporting: Nick Verreos and The Bahamas Weekly Reporter, Islands of The World Fashion Week 2010

Besides the fun and very colorful presentation of Jay McCarroll's new collection, the first night of runway shows also consisted of the NextGen Designers Presentation as well as the Eco-Fashion Designers Presentation. The Competitions were judged by Simon Collins, Dean of Fashion Parsons The New School of Design, Louis Sarmiento Senior Director of IMG Fashion and Jay McCarroll.

Bahamian Cocktail: Model in David Rolle design, Islands of The World Fashion Week 2010

Final Bow: NextGen Designer Finalist David Rolle of The Bahamas and his model, Islands of The World Fashion Week 2010

The favorite in the NextGen Category was up-and-coming Bahamas designer David Rolle. I have a personal connection to David because he helped both myself and my NIKOLAKI design partner, David Paul two years ago when we showed at the 2008 Islands of The World Fashion Week. He was INVALUABLE. He was backstage steaming, pressing and holding up our gowns. He was so pro-active, always asking questions and never complaining. He was a Designer's DREAM intern and assistant at the time.

Proud Poppas: NIKOLAKI Designers David Paul and Nick Verreos with NextGen Designer Winner David Rolle

And so both David and I were so proud to see his debut collection. I joked and told him that we felt like "Proud Poppa's". His designs were both directional yet elegant and sell-able--all at the same time. He even hand-cuffed all the models:

Yep, I said HAND CUFFED them (look closely above!). A few nights later, at the Final Night of the Islands Of The World Fashion Week, David Rolle won the NextGen Award and a Scholarship to Parsons New School for Design. Congrats to "our" David Rolle!

Click Below to watch David Rolle win the NextGen Designer Award:

Next Up: "Runway Night 2" of Islands of The World Fashion Week...