Grand affair at Melbourne Cup There's something to be said of an event that is organised in two weeks and manages to draw the full creme de la creme of Suva society. It could be the horses, it could be the clothes, it could be the party or all of the above! It may have just been the best MC party to go to, given that there were 5 organised for Suva alone but we dont know because we didnt move once we got to the quaint new Governors Gourmet Coffee House & Restaurant at the corner of Riley and Knolly Street. The Grand Melbourne Cup, was put on by a handful of the members of the Fiji Fashion Council - an organisation that combines the former Fashion Designers Alliance of Fiji and the largely manufacturer filled Fiji Fashion Council. The dresses were beautiful although it was dissappointing to note that not a single patron had on local designerwear, not withstanding the designers themselves of course. Mere Schuster of BeMe came in a beautiful strapless mini dress, a mix of leather and silk straight off of their MHCC FJFW 2013 collection. Elaine O'Connor Taylor had on a beautiful drawstring cocktail from the "Reefs of Fiji" (or something of a similar name!) collection she and Zelda Thomas Paige put together earlier in the year. The collection basically dresses you in the colours of the actual Beqa reefs, sublimated onto silk and so Elaine of course looked amazing. Lady of the manor, Carolyn Ah Koy, owner of The Governors and veteran fashion designer of the line "Karalina" also of course came in her own creation, a pink mesh of silk and cotton embellishments. Thats a dame thats never less than grand! What i wanted to write home about though were the beautiful locally made fascinators and hats on display. Except for the odd one or two imports, most of yesterdays punters came in something made by only one of two people, if it wasnt by Robert Verebasaga (better known as the BE in BeMe) it was by Gwen Fong, better known as Fancy Pants. Rachel Fairfax (of Rfx) was spotting a gigantic hibiscus flower by Gwen which most certainly ensured she was the centre of a lot of attention, if not all. But what caught my eye was how each arrival seemed to make a bee line for the creative Berta (as Robert is better known) to have their head dressed! Feathers, mesh wire, wrapping twine or paper - the headpieces did fascinate so Fiorente may have won on the tracks but we think Robert Verebasaga was yesterdays winner. Pluses: everyone who made an effort to dress up, especially the two Kiwis in island style safaris (we hope you won something!), Cristina Lower who came in this seasons suggested Cup Day wear, everyone that made an effort to wear a local production and thereby supported Fiji fashon, the carved wooden wine holder which served as awards (where can we get one please Rfx?), Chandon (at $70 a pop was still worth every drop), music (live bands are always better - take a note everyone!), delish finger foods. Minus: the Grants Waterhouse system constantly breaking down (but we hear it happened everywere in Suva?); humidity xoxox LMR
