Beautiful evening for cancer charity
THIS month’s charity fashion show by Walmer’s Calyx Boutique yielded a record R15 000 for the Look Good. . . Feel Better Foundation, boosted by the auction of a dreamy designer dress.
The annual show featured winter and summer clothing with the highlight the inclusion of a yet-to-be-released range by Ilan designer Stephan Martin, who sent his South African Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2015/2016 collection to Port Elizabeth for the night.
Calyx owner Maryna Nortier said the auction of an Ilan evening dress – modelled by Lauren Rushmere – was an “incredible” part of the evening at the Metropolitan Art Museum. “It sold for R2 600 and that pushed the total up to the best we have been able to give them.”
Look Good. . . Feel Better is a non-profit organisation which supports women in active cancer treatment by helping them to “look good”, which in turn can improve self-esteem during their often gruelling medical interventions.
The Ilan collection is now in production and will only go on sale to the public later in the year. Nortier said although many Ilan garments were in sheer fabrics the designer would rework the ramp beauties into “slightly more wearable” pieces for day wear.
Martin, who studied fashion design and has won several awards, has been sewing since childhood – he created his first garment when only seven-years-old, much to his grandmother’s horror as it was cut out of her favourite floral dress!
“We are creating clothing that makes women feel confident no matter what her age or shape, and making designer clothing accessible to everyone,” he says of his work.
The dress on auction was a maxi-dress with a black undergarment, and nude mesh overlay.
Nortier noted that the many cleverly cut vertical panels helped to make the garment skim over curves, giving a flattering effect.