Tampa is starting to put itself on the fashion map. It doesn't claim to be NYC, Beverly Hills, or Miami. Tampa is an extension of these fashion forward cities. Think of New York City's Fashion District, South Beach, or Rodeo Drive as the gown and Tampa Bay as the necklace or piece of jewelry that sets off the gown.
Tampa Bay Fashion Week held at the Sheraton was one event where I, along with other members of the press, got a great chance to snap shots of incredible designs by local fashion designers. Amongst the high-heeled and well-dressed spotlighted artists were:
Ivanka Ska, who moved from Poland to NYC then to St. Pete, where she owns the House of Ska and The Art of Modeling & Runway Studio. Ivanka is a media favorite. She is an ongoing guest on NBC's Daytime, Studio 10 and Fox 13. She also has been named the official designer to the Royal Family of Prince Mario-Max Schamburg-Lippe of Austria.
Rhonda Shear, the longtime television personality, offers designs that focus on comfort, support, and always allure! She is featured on the Home Shopping Network and her local boutique is the Maison Rouge. Rhonda is currently working with Emmy-nominated Hollywood designer Warden Neil to add more stylish fashions to the Rhonda Shear Line.
Adjanys Marrero caught my attention because I live in a year round sun-kissed area and travel to where even more kisses are thrown at me from the tropical islands that I travel to on writing assignments. Starting with her introduction of crochet fashion in the Tampa Bay area, she has made her fashion available around the planet.
I had a great time visiting with these designers and a few of the others. It is with much respect and appreciation for them as I, too, had spent many early years illustrating, designing and sewing fashions and home fashions.
Standing on top of the press stage atop a wooden box and a stepladder, I leaned on ABC's shoulders in case I toppled down, down, down. Just to get the shots we were pressed into the press box. NBC looked at me strangely as he adjusted his gigantic camcorder. I lusted after that professional equipment without paying much attention to my standing-room only situation. My assistant below me bounced from side to side as she juggled her own equipment and made sure that I got what I needed plus had a soft landing should I fall.
Without any room to set up a tripod, my arm and shoulder started to scream, "No more!" so I made my way to the front and just plopped on the ground right in front of the runway. With no more strength to hold my camera for another hour I just took the shots at an angle from the floor. A lovely view I was, I'm sure. Yet lo and behold! the angled shots from that view made for some outstanding fashion photos. And to think, my creativity came out of pure happy exhaustion of being a photographer!
So when you think of Tampa for sea, sand, and sun remember that it offers lots more and one of those "lots more" is a pretty outstanding fashion scene. Set your camera on fashion forward!
Comments