Met guests play it safe

With the absence of bigger-than-life personalities such as Kuli Roberts, Kenny Kunene and Khanyi Mbau, there was a subdued atmosphere at the 35th J&B Met on Saturday.

The 500 celebrities and socialites invited to the VIP marquees - most of whom were up-and-coming and established twentysomethings - played it painstakingly safe in style and conduct.

Women wore outfits that lacked the over-the-top glamour and flamboyance we have come to associate with the Met and men such as musician Stoan Seate, rapper AKA, model Stevel Marc and singer Theo Kgosinkwe looked as if they just walked off a Carducci runway with personalised images of the same look by the label.

"I'm disappointed with the men because this is a one-off occasion at which you're allowed to think out of the box, push the envelope, have fun and laugh at yourself if you want to. It's sort of like a costume party but the men aren't dressing the part. They're just putting on bow ties, blazers and shorts," said choreographer Somizi Mhlongo, who wore an androgynous cream, feathered David Tlale suit and teamed up with socialite Uyanda Mbuli to win the best- dressed couple title.

But the duo's moment in the spotlight was stolen by "Yfm Twinz" Hlelo and Thando Masina's matching red latex catsuits.

Their racy S&M-inspired outfits momentarily added amusement at the J&B marquee and was the icebreaker among guests, whose most frequently asked question was whether their outfits were appropriate in the 32C heat.

But despite their presence at the marquee, and it being decked out with a sushi bar, massage stations and an open bar, most of the celebrity guests abandoned what was supposed to be "the most happening tent" by 3pm in favour of the SABC marquee.

Dressed in a Kluk CGDT dress, Jeannie D interviewed guests as they arrived for a live SABC3 red-carpet broadcast.

Only a white picket fence separatedthe VIPs from the hoi polloi.

The seating arrangement resembled a stage and hordes of onlookers gathered at the gate while some frantically called their favourite soap stars by character names, requested photographs and tried to sneak in.

"The Met is a great excuse to have a party but it's not all play. There's a lot of public relations because the people you want to meet and the people who want to meet you are all in one place. It's about getting to meet people, mingling with the media, meeting our fans," said Jo Anne Strauss.