The Club Med-Caravelle, in Ste-Anne on Guadeloupe, is one of our favorite Club Meds. Its best attraction is its beautiful beach, the setting for its activities.
But one of our favorite things to do on the beach, isn't even mentioned in their brochure... Watching the greatest fashion show on earth! You won't see the range of clothes or designers you would on the runway of a Seventh Avenue fashion show, but you won't care. The fashion show on this French Caribbean island offers something altogether different.
On any given day, lovely young ladies saunter up & down the beach with large straw baskets in hand & tropical bikinis on their bodies. Baskets are filled with assorted swimwear and pareos. Look their way and these women will approach, then model a bikini especially for you.
Don't particularly like the one she has on? No problem. In an instant it's off with the top & bottom (tiny thongs are left on) and new one modeled. A cover-up to complete the ensemble is offered. No amount of time spent with you is too much. The girls are used to shedding suits all day long while being oggled by beach-goers.
This fashion show happens right in front of your lounge chair, in a very relaxed atmosphere. You don't even have to be a guest at the Club Med to enjoy the show, because all Guadeloupean beaches are public. You could never get this close to looking at the goods in New York. And the interaction is fun, even if you can't speak a word of French.
This is marketing genius! These women sell what they wear very well. The line of beachwear is locally made. It's good quality, with enough variety. The clothes are not inexpensive, however. A very small 2-piece swimsuit can be $100.00 or more. If that doesn't deter you, consider the fact that most women won't look very good in these minimal bathing suits. Certainly not like the French salesladies that are modeling them. But that doesn't seem to matter. It's a marketing dream that you can't help but become part of .
A couple catches the eye of a swimsuit model. Over she comes with her wares. As a conversation is struck (with little or no French involved), you can be sure they won't get away without buying something. But they get their money's worth. After five bathing suit changes, plenty of turning around to see the outfits from all angles, and unloading the basket to feel fabrics and check colors, a sale is finalized. Who will wear the turquoise tie-dyed bikini just bought? Unless the couple has a very trim daughter at home...probably no one!
And, yes, there are young men that do the model-thing, too. We happened upon a very well-endowed young man that was selling men's drawstring pants in wild colors from his basket. One nod and he was over to us. We were in seventh-heaven (not avenue) as our Frenchman disrobed. Now how could we not buy a pair of his tropical pants after that fashion show? We had to. We wanted to. Just don't ask us if any of our men have ever worn them...