“I don’t believe in fashion, I believe in style. There’s trendy and there’s stylish. A woman always has to find what suits her. But she mustn’t be stuck in a time warp, and she shouldn’t be a fashion victim. That’s a very expensive experience.”

— Meiling

Considered the doyenne of Caribbean fashion and one of the finest exponents in the region, Meiling is hands-down a designer who astutely marries substance and style. The Trinidadian high priestess of style, who studied at the Lucie Clayton School of Fashion in London where she learned pattern-making, grading and garment construction, returned to the Twin Republic in the early ’70s and set up her first studio and retail outlet in a renovated garage. It’s a far cry from today as the designer now has boutiques in her homeland, as well as St Lucia, Barbados, Martinique, St Thomas in the United States Virgin Islands, and at Soho in Jamaica.

Last seen on the island wowing the Caribbean Fashion Week crowd with her collection back in June, the queen of minimalism is due back here for Jamaica’s biggest shopping night – Jamaica OBSERVER CELEBRATES FASHION’S NIGHT OUT slated for September 8. We’re sure avowed devotees of Meiling will be taking advantage of the event to secure designs from the lady renowned for her work in fine linens and natural fabrics.

SO has been reliably informed that Hollywood actress Vivica A Fox will be wearing Meiling when she swans into SoHo boutique.