Glitzy, figure-hugging ball gowns, fast cars and even song-and-dance routines from production Dirty Dancing — the Red Carpet gala night of Audi Fashion Festival 2013 had it all.
Held on the evening of May 14, 2013, the invite-only gala event was to celebrate the start of Audi Fashion Festival 2013.
Carolina Herrera Baez, Carolina Herrera, Tjin Lee and Dick Lee at the Audi Red Carpet Night 2013 Gala Dinner. ALL PHOTOS: WESLEY KOW
Spotted in attendance were designer duo Carolina Herrera and her daughter Carolina Herrera Baez, as well as local personalities Dick Lee and Daniel Boey and socialite members of Singapore society.
Stunning, floor-sweeping gowns were seen not only on the Pavoni by Mikael D. Autumn Winter 2013 runway (the headlining show of the night) but on the equally glamorous attendees as well.
This year’s gala event did take some surprising turns. The night’s festivities began with an “impromptu” performance by the aptly named Tenors Undercover. The first of three singing sensations pretended to be the host of the night.
Tenors Undercover at the Audi Red Carpet Night 2013 Gala Dinner
He complimented an seemingly unsuspecting gent (who turned out to be his fellow Tenor) on his tie and attire and the two then burst into song ‒ operatic tunes to be exact ‒ with another guest (Tenor number three) began to sing along with gusto, much to the surprise of the audience.
The next highlight of the night was the Audi Star Creation 2013 winners’ showcase. The winning designs by Singapore’s Haziq Putra, Sun Yi Jin from China and Vietnamese designer Vu Ta Linh were shown on the catwalk, flanked by two of the latest Audi automobiles.
The Audi Star Creation winners’ showcase at Audi Red Carpet Night 2013 Gala Dinner
Homegrown talent Haziq Putra also took top honours in the regional fashion design competition, Audi Star Creation, for 2013. He received the Audi Young Designer Award and an additional $10, 000 in cash for his work that had “best (embodied) the Audi design spirit of innovation, technology and progression.”
Singapore designer Haziq Putra wins Audi Young Designer Award
While guests were served an exquisite meal, many waited with bated breath for the finale act; the Autumn Winter 2013 collection from Pavoni by Mikael D. The Canadian label has never been shown in Asia, but despite this it had no shortage of fans in Singapore, with guests as well as event host Stephanie Carrington seen wearing its creations.
Pavoni by Mikael D. Autumn-Winter 2013
Said to be inspired by “the Golden Era”, the collection was as glitzy as its name would suggest. Lavish figure-clinging, waist-cinching gowns were the order of the day; the preferred silhouette of the label’s creative director Mikael Derderian. Dresses hugged every womanly curve; it should be of no surprise that celebrities like Mariah Carey, Halle Berry are amongst the brand’s top A-list fans.
This collection also featured plenty of lace, in different textures and shades. Baroque-style lace motifs crept almost like vines around the red-carpet worthy gowns. In some instances, models looked statuesque in column gowns, while others embraced the lure of flouncy, dreamy layers of tulle and lace.
The Autumn Winter 2013 line was in no shortage of frills or bustles either. Heavy skirts formed a trailing mermaid tail on several gowns. The peplum too, was much in vogue in Derderian’s designs. One stellar look featured an almost tattoo-like lace bodice that was matched with a dramatic peplum skirt.
The finale gowns at Pavoni by Mikael D. Autumn-Winter 2013
A stunning, floor-sweeping confection in white was the finale look ‒ surely a wedding dress inspiration for brides-to-be.
But to the surprise of many, the Pavoni show did not spell the end of this gala night. Guests were the first live audience in Singapore to catch the cast of the Dirty Dancing musical, which is due to open next week at the Marina Bay Sands Theatres. Stars of the Dirty Dancing musical strode onto the catwalk to perform two dance-and-song segments including “(I’ve Had) The Time of My Life”.
Cast of the Dirty Dancing musical at Audi Red Carpet Night 2013 Gala Dinner
If this glitzy night was any indication, Audi Fashion Festival 2013 is off to a roaring start; with even more hot fashion nights to come.
The Gala Night of Audi Fashion Festival 2013 took place on May 14 at The Tent@Marina Promenade at Marina Promenade Turn, behind the Singapore Flyer.
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The Audi Fashion Festival 2013 is held at The Pit Building from May 15 to May 19, 2013. For more information, go to http://audifashionfestival.com/, or follow Audi Fashion Festival on Twitter and Facebook.