With scraps of blue tarps flying across the floor at 2015 Fantasy Fest Queen Mary-Lynne Price’s Key West house, she was piecing together blue for a wonderful creation while waiting for Amazon Prime to deliver more accoutrements for the design.
More than 20 locals have stepped up to create or walk in the fashion show taking place Wednesday, Feb. 28 at Amsterdam Curry Mansion. The event will help fund hurricane relief efforts of Sister Season Fund and Wesley House Family Services put on through the Key West Krewe.
“I’ve been a singer, a dancer, a queen, a model, and an actor,” said Price, designing a piece that The Weekly’s Kristen Livengood will strut across the stage. “Now, I am adding designer to the list.”
Other designers include show co-creator Val Marmillion, Dee Johnson, Sushi, Bria Ansara, Maxine Makover, Destiny Montgomery and models Cheryl Cates, Kris Pabian, Laura Richardson, Erin McKenna, Jack Paul, Jenn Stefanacci, among others.
In 2006, Marmillion and partner Juan Pisani were a part of a similar fundraising event after Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans. “The inspiration for the event is to promote the creativity of our island while lending a helping hand to our local charities who keep our community compassionate and strong,” said Marmillion.
And Pisani is no stranger to the fashion world, as a retired model. “Our fashion world is known as one who gives back to community and our runway will glitter with fabulous models and one-of-a-kind blue tarp couture designs,” he said.
Flying in from New Orleans is Sand Marmillion, a costume design teacher at Tulane University who is creating Pabian’s outfit. Her winning design from the Hurricane Katrina event is on display at the permanent hurricane remembrance exhibit at Louisiana State University. “I’m not worthy,” Pabian said, excited for the event.
As for the NOLA event, one event designer and model said, “blue tarp blue is the new black,” long before orange ever was.
Tickets for Key West’s first blue tarp fashion show are $75 for general admission. The event is taking place at Amsterdam’s Curry Mansion Inn at 6:30 p.m., complete with a runway and fashion show seating. Tickets can be purchased onsite or at squareup.com/store/kreweofkeywest.
