By Joy Doss, Special to The New Tri-State Defender
Disclaimer: I’m a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Innnnncorporated and very much biased!
That said, the Deltas truly rocked the second annual Rock The Runway fashion presentation, which was held Downtown at the Cannon Center for The Performing Arts on Sunday.
Rock The Runway benefits the sorority’s Maggie McDowell scholarship fund. It’s a celebration of black women – our magic, our humanity, our softness, our sassiness, our realness, our individuality AND our curves!
There was something for every woman, with every body type represented on that runway. For just over two hours, models strutted, taking me back to my days as a kid watching the Ebony Fashion Fair each year. They danced and shimmeyed, music jumpin’ as audience members periodically sang along or saluted with rhythmic head nods.
No one does colors, patterns, sparkles and hats like we do. And not just on the runway. The attendees were serving up some slayage too! I love it when we get all doodied up, feeling good and walking on our own personal runway. We are vibrant, neon lights in this universe. And for sure, we are ROCKIN.
The featured designer, chief rocker if you will, was fabulous soror Brandi Wallace Russell. Her Sacred Heart Collections was a well-curated assembly of fashionable ensembles that had most of the women making a wish list and many of the men hiding their wallets. A Dallas native, Russell is a product of the New York City fashion industry and it shows in her work.
Each look was a palatable cocktail of southern socialite sensibilities, sophistication and grown womanly sensuality. For someone like moi, it was great! I salute black designers because I have worked in and around the fashion industry for years. I know how brutal the industry can be for us. Many are called but the chosen are few.
“Celebrity models” – some of Memphis’ most favorite and most fun personalities – joined the show. Among the models were: Hometown favorite and Olympic medalist in track, Rochelle Stevens; Chef Aryen Moore-Alston, owner of Sweet Potato Baby and finalist on season 10 of Food Network Star; 88.5 FM personality Cathy Hart and model/actress Heidi Stegman Kuhn.
During the show, the sorority recognized two of “our own,” Barbara Deans and Tevita L. Williams Dumas. Deans was recognized as an Emerging Designer as she debuted her collection of colorful trench coats in an array of African prints and geometric patterns, some of which were reversible or had a fun surprise lining. Yes, of course there was Delta Red in the mix.
Dumas, affectionately known as “the Dancing Delta,” was the Collage of Black Spirits honoree. The Founder of T.L. Williams Academy of Dance and a long-time dance specialist at Shelby County Schools, Dumas is currently in-residence at Rozelle Creative and Performing Arts Elementary School, where she is very much beloved by her students and well-respected for her service and sacrifice.
She was saluted with a powerful performance by Collage dance Collective, a pas de deux featuring Kimberly Ho-Tsai and Daniel Cooke from the professional company. I think I actually heard audible gasps and jaws dropping to the floor when a long, lean shirtless Daniel came onto the stage. Ahem…. But I digress!
The show culminated with the obligatory wedding scene and, natch, the Red Haute finale. And I would be remiss if I didn’t mention that Formation scene. The girls were struttin’, in perfect Formation, in Designs by Earnestine and their fabulous fur jackets, courtesy King Furs. I’m not even a fur coat kinda gal, but I wanted one for a minute!
True to form, the Deltas’ Memphis Alumnae chapter delivered both style and substance. These ladies are admirable. Trust me when I tell you they for sure work hard. But then they show up looking like they hadn’t even broken a sweat.
Kudos to my fellow sorors and all of the featured designers. Team Doss will be in the building again next year with all three generations in tow – Fall ’63 (charter line thank you!), Spring ’94 and the Delta Diva-in-training.
