San Juan Fashion Week 2004 Review

April 28, 2004 5:29 PM
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San Juan Fashion Week Transeason Fall- Winter 2004
Review by: Mari Pili Montilla
Photography by: Michael Ramirez

Once again, San Juan Fashion Week "Transeason 2004" has been a total success. During the three days of adrenaline fueled by the back-to-back-to-back fashion shows and fashion addicts frolicking in the Wyndham El San Juan Hotel lobby, there were many happennings and mishappennings.

Also, this bi- annual event was covered by the national and international press, which made the 10 designers that took part in the same, demonstrate their creations in their own special way.

Somehow, it seemed as if this year the designers wanted to take their respective shows to a whole new level, and it was apparent that they felt the need to incorporate mind-capturing ideas to make their shows stand out.

Therefore, designers like Sonia Rivera, Stella Nolasco, Luis Antonio and Eddie Guerrero added a special something to their shows that definitely made them stand apart.

Sonia Rivera's designs were structural and based on arquitecture, with geometrical forms such as circles and spirals along with rough cuts dominating the catwalk. However, what made everyone talk about her show was the finale.

Rivera's final scene was protagonized by what seemed to be a pair of two models (a woman and a man) walking down the runway. Halfway through the catwalk, everyone could realize that both models were in fact females, taking Rivera's show and the art of cross-dressing to another level. Not only did she shock the audience, but she made the models look absolutely sexy!!

One of my ultimate favorites, Stella Nolasco also made a very memorable show, inspired by the o-so-sexy Agent 007 James Bond and his movies. Nolasco presented a cool mixture of textures, colors, and fabrics that fascinated the fashion loving spectators. Controversial as usual, Stella had to make another impact besides her awesome collection and great theme.

Hence the Big Bang!!!! Literally, as James Bond walked down the runway during his last change, a silver dressed female model took a gun and shot him. Nobody could believe it ..... lying on the floor dead was Bond.......James Bond, and meanwhile all the "Bond Girls" walked by applauding the grand finale and modeling the last looks of Nolasco's magnificent fall-winter collection.

Designer Luis Antonio used the chase music to make his show stand out and to confuse all the spectators, which questioned the use of "perreo" or "reggaeton" (puertorrican underground) in his show.

Why did he throw everyone off on this one?? Well, nobody ever imagined the combination of presenting a collection of evening gowns (with beads and elegant fabrics) with a streetlike music genre, especially a song that goes...."tu eres mi bizcochito" (you are my little sweetcake) blasting out of the speakers.

Luis Antonio's mix of fashion couture and street fashion made his show be one of the most talked about.

Last but not least was the always shocking and avantgarde Eddie Guerrero, taking the San Juan Fashion Week to a new level with his show titled "Fetish".

First came out two dancers dressed in S&M (slave and master) clothing, while the models paraded down the runway with pleather (plastic/leather) pants and men with their nude backs exposed.

Guerrero's collections are always really gotthish and fettish, with black always dominating his style, which I question if wearable at all. His ideas and exoticism are always a must see during the SJFW.

It won't be until September when we'll get to see whether or not these designers will keep trying to stand-out not only for their designs, but for the incorporation of odd themes, music, or gender change acts into their shows. Keep posted to Cooljunkie Fashion for other fashion events before Sept.