Friday, March 18, 2011

Brazil Fashion Week Report

You know things are off to a stellar start when Gisele brings the fashion crowd to their feet by simply flashing a thumbs-up. Brazil’s greatest export opened Colcci, the sexy beachy collection that capped off Day One of SPFW. She did three turns on the runway, rocking the collection’s short shorts and high heels. Thanks to Gisele, Sala 1 at the Pavilhão da Bienal do Ibirapuera was packed to standing-room capacity. Colcci paid the big bucks to interrupt her honeymoon, and it was worth it to see the Brasileira toss her trademark waves and bump her hip at the end of the runway. Everyone was mad for Jesus Luz’s second turn at São Paulo. Has it only been six months since his debut at Colcci’s Winter 2009 show? Even the Vogue girls couldn’t stop talking about Madonna’s much-younger, sometime boyfriend. Backstage in hair and makeup, the Voguettes asked the rest of the models what they thought about Jesus’ presence at SPFW. Did he deserve to be there? His arrival to the Bienal almost caused a stampede, and the crowd roared when he followed Gisele on the runway to a remix ofthat.

Caroline Trentini opened the Forum Tufi Duek show to applause from the crowd, looking bold in a strapless black power sheath. The collection was all about sexy, with hints of fetish in the slashed silk and peeks of lace. Caroline was the perfect face for this tough, sleek collection.

When we found out that this jaunt would be Caroline’s sole appearance at SPFW, we had to find out how Mr. Duek managed to reserve the top model. We hear she’ll appear on the July cover of Vogue Brasil wearing the Forum label. We can’t wait to see Caroline rock something exquisitely feminine and fierce!

This collection was Tufi Duek’s last as Forum’s creative director, and we knew he had one more surprise. While we expected to see Caroline close the show, we were shocked to see none other than Isabeli Fontana—in a demure white cap-sleeve dress—top off the night!

Earlier that day we saw Isabeli at the Iodice show, and seated front and center was Isabeli’s ex-boyfriend, pro polo player Ricardo Mansur. Isabeli is dating Brazilian singer Marcelo Falcão, so why was Ricardo there? And who was the pretty girl who snuck in beside him after the lights went down? When Isabeli passed by, Ricardo’s arm draped the girl and we caught the two share a glance. After the show, everyone was buzzing about the mystery girl. Finally, a Vogue Brasil staffer spread the word from a backstage source that the mystery woman was Isabeli’s booker!