Summer Sizzle Brought Top Fashion to The BVI
Summer Sizzle, the annual BVI fashion and lifestyle extravaganza has been featuring top fashion designers, models and celebrities since 2009. The event, which brings the glamour and glitter of the international fashion scene would be as at home in New York City as it is in the British Virgin Islands.
Celebrity Guests at Summer Sizzle
This year’s Summer Sizzle BVI, the show’s 13th event, was held from July 26 to the 31st. Billed as “The Ultimate Summer Experience”, it was hosted by Joy-Ann Reid, MSNBC host and star of The ReidOut, a Washington-based weeknight commentary show.
In addition, Summer Sizzle featured dozens of international and local models and designers, artists and celebrities. Its far-ranging audience includes BVI residents looking to inject a dose of glamour into their summer, as well fashion and travel influencers who are attracted to the BVI’s mix of sun, sea and sand, and the event’s parties, sailing and beach excursions.
Past events have featured Hollywood actors like Taraji P. Henson, known for her many Hollywood and television roles including Cookie Lyon on Empire. Others have included British TV personality, Nigel Barker; actress and model, Eva Marcille and actor Joel Steingold, known for his role as Marcus St John on the Showtime Series The Chi Town.
Terry Donovan brings Sizzle to The BVI
For Terry Donovan, Summer Sizzle’s amiable and energetic creator, pairing a high-powered New York-style fashion event with the tropical beauty of the BVI seems a natural combination.
Terry has a strong background in fashion and event production. The Carrot Bay native and graduate of the BVI High School, helped to mount local fashion shows. His work on the Miss World BVI Pageant, introduced him to people in the fashion industry worldwide. After high school he went on to college in Florida to study fashion merchandising. As a merchandising director, he has worked for top fashion brands Calvin Klein, DKNY and Karl Lagerfeld.
“I’ve always done production on the side,” said Terry, explaining how a young man from Tortola could enter into the US fashion world so readily. “When I came to New York, I worked as a fashion writer for several publications. and volunteered for New York Fashion Week”. Fashion Week features a who’s who of top international designers and brands for a series of high-powered fashion shows and events. “It helped me get my foot in the door,” he noted.
The road to Summer Sizzle began in 1998 when Terry enlisted a New York friend, Agnes Commock, the fashion director for the influential fashion publication, Women’s Wear Daily (WWD) to be a judge at the Miss World BVI contest.
Painkillers and Fashion
“She loved the BVI so much, she has become a virtual ambassador for the BVI,” explained Terry, who helped organize her 40th and 45th birthday parties on the island.
While drinking painkillers on the beach, a party guest suggested Terry should mount an event like this annually, but with a fashion theme.
“A light bulb came on,” Terry said, “and I came up with the first Summer Sizzle.” Launched in 2009 it was received enthusiastically. “Summer can be a slow season in the BVI and people were thrilled about having such an exciting and glamorous event in the BVI in July,” he added.
Over the years Summer Sizzle has added a lifestyle and wellness component to its fashion theme, an addition that has gone over well. Held at the Wyndham Lambert Beach Resort, the workshop, “Staying Afloat” featured BVI born Clinical Psychologist Dr. Michelle Martin-Dowe and Shane Tull a Clinical Psychotherapist.
Other events included a a “Welcome Culture Style Party”; and a “Style Soiree” – “When Art Meets Fashion” – at the Prime Restaurant in Road Town.
On Saturday, the main event “The Global Runway Show” took place at the Multi-Purpose Sports Complex at 7:30. The full night of activities was preceded by a cocktail reception and followed by an After Show at the Moonstone Night Club. Then on Sunday, guests got a taste of the BVI’s sailing lifestyle with a sailing excursion
With so many moving parts, Summer Sizzle is a challenge to put on, Terry explained. There are many sponsors to line up but he is pleased with the event’s overall support. Dozens of local businesses come on board from ferries to restaurants to hotels. The BVI Tourist Board is another supporter.
Hoping to spark an interest in fashion design and production to a new generation, each year he enlists young people to act as interns giving them a taste of the fashion business and event planning.
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