Believe it or not, there exists a place where people don’t care about fashion week or “Fall 2016″ and it’s called Miami Beach. Here, far beyond the walls of Milk Studios, the tides turned, the mojitos flowed, and the crowds shamelessly popped their polo shirt collars with abandon while the rest of the fashion establishment shivered in between shows and presentations.

Ciara and models Nina Agdal and Chanel Iman were among those who fled New York this past weekend for Veuve Clicquot’s annual “Carnaval” — a VIP version of the legendary Brazilian parade and alcohol and food binge-fest that takes place every year before Lent. Veuve Clicquot’s cause for sponsoring the powwow was to pour out its newest iced Champagne: “Rich.”

For the occasion, Museum Park, located in the Miami mainland but a 15-minute drive from South Beach, was colonized by winged women on swings, fancy food trucks, and makeup artists and hairstylists offering guests the flashy eyeshadow and braids that you might find on Rihanna. Attendees traded traditional carnival masks and costumes for their own extravagant displays of tropical swagger, including sky-high espadrille wedges and every print under the sun, literally. Finally, the highlight of the day was a salsa performance featuring gyrating dancers in beaded bathing suits and feathered crowns, who were followed around by a whizzing camera drone. Those hoping for a more authentic carnival experience would have found it nearby at the Pérez Art Museum exhibit of the Dominican artist Firelei Báez, who deals with black culture and Caribbean themes in his work…….

Source: www.wmagazine.com