These females were among the many patrons who turned out to the Launch of Julan fashions, held at Redbones the Blues Café, Braemar Avenue, on Thursday, December 11. - Photos by Winston Sill/Freelance Photographer

Two years ago, Juliette Andrea Dyke visited Rome in Italy and the Coliseum in Greece. The trip became the source of inspiration for her first major fashion show collection: The Roman's Legacy Re-Defined.

On Thursday, under the brand name 'JULAN' (a combination of her first and middle names), she rolled out her first line of clothes at Redbones the Blues Café in New Kingston.

The designs demonstrated that Dyke paid attention to details. The colours (beige, yellow, red and rust, etc) were well coordinated and lines well defined. The garments were of various lengths and the designer's choice of fabric was silk and a blend of polyester.

'The Roman's Legacy Re-Defined' collection was presented in two segments. Segment one designs were constructed from soft beige-coloured polyester. But as the Jani models hurriedly strut down the catwalk, one after the other, the beige colours gradually gave way to prints.

But the large turnout was either taken aback by the beauty of the gowns or dazzled by the speed in which the models made their entrances and exits. And they responded to each hurried exit with what emcee Marlon Honegan labelled as "fenky-fenky" applauses.

Singer Cezar also provided entertainment. Seeming to be still basking in the joy of the birth of Josephine Marie, his two-week-old daughter. Cezar rocked the house with original songs such as You are Beautiful. He also gave a taste of his new song Love Machine and his Coco Cola endorsed song Keep On.

CARIBBEAN INFLUENCE

The presence of the Caribbean influence was evident in segment two. There were bright red and yellow accentuated by black. This combination of solid dark colours gave some character to the second segment. These designs also looked more sophisticated.

This change in colour scheme and designs, along with Cezar's injection of live music, resulted in a more positive response from the guests, with some females shouting "I want that one", referring to particular garments that excited their fancy.

And by the end of the fashion show, they sang Dyke praises.

"She blew me away," said Rob Humphrey, a former model. "I was impressed, especially by the second half." And a female banker thought the fashions were top notch and said she was surprised by the quality. And an obviously proud former lecturer of Dyke in the textile department at the Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts, Robert Hall, said her ideas were excellent. Especially her Bohemian (the merging of different influences) pieces.

But while engineer and marketer Robert Holdsworth agreed that the designs were quite good, he wanted more entertainment and to see a more creative set.

It should be noted that JULAN designs were among those chosen for the wardrobe of Brittany Lyons, Miss Jamaica World 2008.

Out to feast their eyes on some of the season's latest designs by designer Juliette Dyke are (from left) Tesia Johnson, Shannon Gopaul and Tenessia Francis. They were at the launch of Julan fashions.