Off-ramp drama at Fashion Week - WITH PHOTOS

01 October 2012 - 09:25
By Zenoyise John

Drama was not limited to the ramp at the South African Fashion Week in Rosebank at the weekend.

Outside the tent, former Avon face Gerry Rantseli Elsdon attracted some glares. She looked like a Zulu gladiator in an outfit that featured a leopard print T-shirt, a short animal print skirt and traditional Zulu sandals.

Gerry, who came to the show with hubby Kerry, told Sowetan the outfit was part of a collection from her label - the Gerry E Signature Collection.

Miss SA Melinda Bam also caused a stir when her friend, gay socialite and drag queen Mika Stephano, wore her pageant sash.

Stephano posed for pictures and paraded around with it in front of bemused fashion week guests.

One of the former Miss SA judges, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said what Bam did was not "kosher" in the beauty pageant industry.

"What she did is a no-no. The Miss SA sash should be treated with dignity and respect. I suspect she will be in trouble with the Miss SA office.''

The four-day fashion treat took place at the Crowne Plaza hotel.

The event kicked off with the Renault New Talent Search showcase that saw budding designer Zano Sitheto taking this year's first prize.

The show attracted a generous number of fashionistas. But it was Rubicon, Palse Homme and Gert-Johan Coetzee's slot that was highly anticipated. The slot filled the tent to the brim.

Rubicon and Palse Homme put on a sensational show that was dominated by "wow" moments.

Gert-Johan Coetzee, who usually presents a dramatic show, was surprisingly subdued this season.

In this slot fashion week purists bemoaned the use of non-professional ramp models by Rubicon and Gert-Johan Coetzee. The models included former Miss SA Bokang Montjane, Bonang Matheba and Pearl Thusi who attracted attention.