As Day 1 of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Swim approached, we worried we'd be caught in the rain. "You're going to have to swim there," folks would joke, regarding the notorious Miami Beach flooding. And they weren't kidding... almost.
Sure, there were plenty of floods--so many, in fact, that it took us an hour to get to the beach because of road closures. But that didn't keep us (or many others) from turning up in droves, rocking stilettos that surely sank in the sand.
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The opening night party, hosted by Roxy Pop Surf, had a decent crowd: a mixture of fashion bloggers, reality TV wannabees, fashion designers, big whigs and the occasional lost South Beach tourist. (Think: Grandmas rocking capris and flip-flops.)
With three cocktails to choose from--a watermelon cooler, the rockette, and a moscow mule--attendees seemed more united than ever. Commiserating about the nonstop rain, perhaps? About making the rookie mistake of rocking 6-inch heels in what turned out to be quicksand-style flooring? No Matter. Celebrity DJ Chelsea Leyland was on the decks.
A celebrity in her own right, Leyland is known as a "fashion DJ." She's appeared in magazines like Elle, Vogue, NYLON and even the Wall Street Journal.
Her schtick is that she's a cute but alt British girl--many times dubbed a style icon--that loves her studded jewelery and refuses to play top 40 hits. But no worries. She delivered when it came to dance-friendly tunes to make us forget that we were sweating profusely. (Some people even brought mini towels with them to dry their faces! Props!)
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The models were propped on soap-box style platforms like mannequins, dancing, smiling, and keeping overall sunny dispositions despite the weather. They rocked balconet tops, crop tops, and surf suits in a variety of stripes, florals, and blues. The informal presentation lent itself to what the night seemed to really be about: Socializing.
Speaking of socializing, as we waited in line, we heard talks of some big-name celebrities to potentially be in our midst during Swim Week: Matt Damon and J-Lo. Obviously in two different instances, and not appearing together, we heard both of their "handlers" asking PR reps if it would be "cool" if they dropped in to some shows this weekend. One rep actually said: "You're fucking kidding with me, right?" Only time will tell.
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