Risque fashion show to raise funds

If risqué is not your thing, you might want to steer clear of Beluga Bar next Saturday night. 

Local swimwear designer James Lee is throwing an edgy evening of fashion, showcasing his latest collection of bottle cap swim suits. Let’s just say expect lots of beer logos and bare flesh. 

The aspiring designer’s combined fashion show/birthday bash/cocktail party aims to raise funds for his first year of fees for fashion school next year. 

Lee hopes that his skills will make their way back to the island on graduation as his goal is to become
Bermuda’s premier swim-wear designer under his line Xoe Tiqu. 

“It’s Bermuda — we have a few designers on the island but I don’t think there is anyone that really specialises in swimwear. 

“Bermuda is really marketable to swimwear —
all the tourists who come here — it would be great to have a local designer to look out for when they are here. Something that is local.

“The choice in Bermuda is a little limited when you see all the varieties all around the world — different cuts, different styles, criss-crosses everywhere, zippers everywhere. 

“In Bermuda everything is quite basic — if you really want to go and get something edgy you have to shop online.”

The show, titled Taste Of Skin, promises to be unlike any other fashion show in Bermuda. 

Featuring four other local designers, the clothes will be paraded around the restaurant as guests relax to music with a cocktail. 

“It is going to be different — it’s not going to be a typical runway where you have a platform and a stage, it will be more on the level where you are sitting — it will be right in front of you. 

“We are going to bring the presence of the runway to you rather than have you come to the runway.

“The other designers are Celine Mortons whose collection is more young, flirty and youthful. 

“Juliette Dyke has done some swimwear, I know she has some ready-to-wear stuff as well. 

“Juliana Gibbons’ collection is ready-to-wear with a little bit of an edge. There is one more local designer which we’ll keep as a surprise for those who come.”

Lee is hoping to study at Central Saint Martin College of Art and Design even though he has already been accepted into another school.

He believes there is a limited choice in Bermuda when it comes to swim wear. 

As he gains experience, he hopes to move into custom made pieces. 

“I have a few ace girls who complain when they go shopping for swimsuits, they need a medium top and a small bottom or vice versa and they can’t just buy one or the other. It would be more ideal for them to have something custom-made to their fit. I’m hopefully going to focus on custom making some suits — I’m just focusing on bottle caps over the summer I want to broaden my horizons and start using fabrics. At the moment it was more focusing on unconventional materials and recycling and there are other things you can do than just throwing stuff away. 

“It is not for everyone — it is very mature so there is an age limit a lot of the outfits are a bit risqué.”

Taste of Skin Cocktail Party/Fashion Show takes place at Beluga Bar from 7pm to 11pm on Saturday, March 29. General tickets are $50 and VIP tickets are $100 including a sushi buffet. They are available from Beluga Bar, The Edge, Jazzy Boutique, Secrets, TK Hair Salon and Kit ‘n’ Caboodle or call 704-0559.