Roger Milliner, deputy executive director of marketing of MetroPlus Health Plan, welcomed Guyanese-born fashion designer, Roger Gary, and other up-and-coming local designers to its first FASHnFIT event, during New York Fashion Week on Friday, Sept. 8 at CBS Radio Theatre on Hudson Street.
Gary, who has won countless awards for his elegant evening gowns and beauty queen outfits, glammed up the runway and garnered loud applause for his elegant swimsuits, some with cabana-style cover-ups in a colorful motif, others with whimsical throw-overs, accented with Chinese umbrellas to showcase his Asia inspired Aqua Couture collection, known for its use of luxurious fabric, practical with a hint of fantasy.
Gary’s collection was a great fit for the MetroPlus trendy fashion event that included panel discussion, and a health and wellness exposition, which Milliner merged to inspire the audience to think healthy and live a healthy lifestyle.
Milliner, himself, an award-winning professional used his skills to bring about meaningful discussion about health and wellness, with topics “My Healthy Empire, and the Business of Fashion and Health under the MetroPlus Health Plan brand. Health fitness enthusiast, Jets Cornerback Buster Skrine, an instructor, offseason, who raises funds for his foundation, Path Mentorship that helps single mothers and children in need was a guest.
Fitness brand EyeBike Starkli Fit Water showcased their products, while Athleta fitness wear started the unique fashion experience with stylish outfits.
The fashion show included the talents of Lady D’ – a flirtatious line of little ladies outfits designed with lots of tulle fabric, and trimmed with sequins accessorized with bouquets. Douglas Says, brought elegance to the fashion event, with an all-red evening gown collection that was simply enchanting.
Other fashion forward pieces included Rafi’s lavish flair cut dresses, one with a pant underlay, others with trendy tie-dye designs. Duane Fish whose male collection of floral baggy pants and multi-colored shirts for the confident, sexy man, heated up the runway.
Franking Fly brought garnered applause for his unique collection of jackets for males and females, embellished with feathers and other trimmings suited for the urban trendsetter.
The audience which had an opportunity to sip bubble tea and fitness water, buy fitness wear and interact with health experts, and later enjoy a performance by recording artist, Tristan “Mack” Wilds, can look forward to more of the same, said Milliner, who plans to host another FASHnFIT event during Fashion Week in February 2018.
