The Inner Wheel Club of Georgetown, celebrated its 32nd Annual Hat Show and Garden Party, with a spectacular presentation on Saturday, April 27, where Guyanese New Yorker, Gem Fraser, wowed the crowd in a pink whimsical headpiece, simply titled “Spring.”
Fraser, a fashion designer for more than 10 years, said it took her just two hours to design the “fascinator,” designed from colored straw, and decorated with butterflies to make it a spring original, which matched nicely with her ensemble.
The Promenade Gardens on Middle Street in the capital city, was the perfect setting to showcase elegantly dressed women, handsome men, and cute kiddies, who competed in Junior, Senior, and Group categories.
The hats, bonnets and head-wraps, judged in categories of elegant, original, and tropical, many intricately designed with elements of the Easter season.
The titled pieces included Sunflower, Petal Bridal Affair, The Ascot, Morning Glory, Bonny & Friend Easter, Butterfly Party, Ocean Waves, Walk in the Garden, Flying High, Bunny in the Garden, History Serenity, Easter Explosion, Easter Splendor, Easter Surprise, Royal Bunnies, and Oil and Gas.
Mrs. Sita Nagamootoo, wife of Prime Minister, Moses Nagamootoo, patron of the event, was one of colorfully dressed women who garnered loud applause as they stepped into the bandstand to showcase their hats.
Children of the Ptolemy Reid Rehabilitation Centre also made an impressive appearance wearing playful outfits.
Dominica born, Sandra La Rocque, wife of CARICOM Secretary General, Irwin La Rocque, a painter and sculptor, had the arduous task along with, Andrea Braithwaite and Akeisha Cave, in the adult category, and Carolyn Mathura, Mikheil McLennon and Melissa Lewis, in the children category, to judge the dazzling array of headwear, that were innovative and fanciful.
The creations made use of tulle fabric, artificial sunflowers, roses, fabric paint, natural fibers and Easter trimmings.
African cloth head-wraps, and the prestigious Guyana Golden Arrowhead flag, in the Oil and Gas design, also wowed the appreciative crowd, entertained by jolly music, performed by the Guyana Police Band in a setting festooned with spring bloom.
Thanks to President of Inner Wheel of Georgetown, Santosh Bera, team and broadcaster, Russel Landcaster, who served as emcee, the event was a total success.
Winners were presented with trophies and other prizes.
