Meiling says 'Much Ado...'

Featured on Au Courant in the Caribbean as one of our Island Style Icons, Top Designer Meiling recently unveiled her 2007 Christmas collection 'Much Ado' at the swanky Trinidadian liming spot, Club Zen. I don't like when she does this, show her collection at a night club; it just seems like she's trying to force her chic designs on the clubbing folk, who usually won't give a damn about local designers until somebody high profile wears their clothes. You know what I'd say? If the masses aren't hip on what's effortlessly cool in terms of stylish clothing, leave them in cheap clothes heaven! Leave them! Don't go soliciting them at all. On the other hand, I'm not the one heading up a celebrated & respected clothing line with covetable stuff to sell... Well at least not as yet!

Anyways, Meiling is the cat's meow, the creme de la creme, the shiznit, the absloutely coolest designer who keeps creating understated yet outstanding & unique clothing for people who are interested in buying well made garments. Her pin-tucked shirt detailing, hand done embroidery, delicate beading, fluid lines, and precision cuts speak so loudly for themselves that after decades in the Fashion Business, Meiling literally takes a step back and lets her creations do the gabbing. Always in monotone black or sometimes all-white, her austere personal look doesn't negatively influence the designs. Rather "it allows the client and the design to take center stage" according to Meiling, and that's the silent edge she has over most other flashy designers. Some months ago, she did a gorgeous eyelet fabric strapless wedding gown for me with delicate lace & beading on the bust line, and an incredible voile sash for a trail. From the initial consultation to the final fitting, there was never any of the usual overbearing diva designer antics... "I think you should do this, or that or whatever" none of that trash. Instead it was like meeting with an old friend; the only thing that reminded me of her Top Designer status was that at the end of the day she demanded I trust her fashion wisdom 'completely'.

There's a science or even an art to Meiling's clothing. Going against the obvious in fashion trends, 'Much Ado' was all about floaty dresses, airy linens shirts, raw silk hot shorts, flared skirts, body-conscious fabrics and a delightful range of rich colours - it was exactly what one should wear in the Caribbean. In fact, the selections were chic enough to be worn anywhere else, to boot! Dresses were seductively sliding off the models' shoulders, skirts were swishing at the calves or ankles with a slight touch of Elizabethan flair, the fabrics were either crisp and sharp, or fluid and draping nicely. And the colours! Working the full range from basics to jewelled tones, the shades were rich and deep where they needed to be, or matte at other places. Usually, you can count on Meiling to churn out those ever faithful white, gauzy numbers, but it's always refreshing whenever she spins the colour wheel. To see more of Meiling's 'Much Ado' collection, check our Caribbean Fashion Parade section. For contacts and more information log on to www.Meilinginc.com

Salut!

L.M.N. Harris.