by MIKE CHAIKEN
In the promotional video for Chasity Aniece Productions’ next fashion show, four sailors hear the song of the sirens’ and are lured off into danger.
And sirens and sailors look stylish.
The promo video for the show, which takes place Sunday, July 27, evokes the Greek myth of mysterious creatures with the heads of women and bodies of birds and/or fish whose modus operandi was to get men of the sea to crash their ships against the jagged rocks that threaten their jouney.
In the case of the Chasity Aniece fashion video, the sirens are models that will walk the runway this month… as are the sailors who were intrigued by a mysterious song.
The fashion show is called, “Siren: Echoes of the Deep.” The video is dubbed “Summoned by the Sea.”
Chasity Kennedy, the driving force and brains behind the production company, said the idea for “Siren” was sparked by “my love of water and marine life. I knew I wanted to create something rooted in the world beneath the surface, literally and metaphorically. What started as a playful concept around underwater beauty quickly evolved into something deeper.”
Kennedy continued, “I never like to create just for aesthetics, every (Chasity Aniece) production is layered with meaning. The Sirens became a symbol of the voice, identity, and is ultimately about reclamation of our power of women.”
Chasity Aniece Productions often puts a serious message behind the fashion. However, “Siren” seems more “fun” than history lesson However, Chasity noted she has not completely shelved the serious messages for the latest show.
“It’s immersive without asking you to ‘get it’ all at once,” said Chasity. “You can come for the visuals, the bold styling, the custom designs, the cinematic staging, and just be wowed. Or you can look a little deeper and realize everything has meaning: the movement, the colors, the music. It’s not either, or. It’s fashion with feeling. Whether you’re a style lover, a storyteller, or just someone who enjoys a beautifully built show, ‘Siren’ gives you an experience to remember.”
What intrigued Chasity about the story of the sirens in the first place? “I was fascinated by how the sirens were portrayed; how their power was feared, how their voices were blamed, and how their stories were often rewritten by those who didn’t understand them,” said Chasity as the serious message of the mythology is revealed by the Connecticut fashion impresario. “That mirrors how people, especially women and creatives, are often treated in the real world. I wanted to flip that script. Instead of dangerous temptresses, we see them as protectors, warriors, and beings of raw beauty and complexity.”
Although, given the Greek myth of the sirens, the designers could simply have come back with looks fit for a stage production of the ancient tale. But Chasity urged the creatives to push a little harder.
“Designers were challenged to go beyond the literal,” said Chasity. “While the ocean-inspired textures, colors, and silhouettes are stunning, we also asked them to connect emotionally, what does ‘calling back your power’ look like in fabric? Each siren tribe (there is a red, yellow and blue tribe depicted in the video) has a different feminine power; so designers had room to explore a full range, from ethereal to fierce. It’s couture storytelling.
The video production for “Siren” was fairly elaborate. It began in the early hours of the day at the lighthouse at the end of Bridgeport’s Seaside Park. It moved across several locations, before wrapping up long after sunset in Shelton by a waterfall. And a fashion army was on-hand for the distance to bring the ideas to life.
So, the question that is begging to be asked, which came first… the idea for a fashion video about sirens or the idea for a runway show inspired by the myth?
“Honestly, both ideas developed simultaneously,” said Chasity in her email interview. “The show and the film are intertwined. The film is almost like a living prologue to what the audience will see on the runway. It introduces the world, the characters, and the emotion behind the aesthetic. I wanted the film to be a mood-setter and a surreal preview of the magic coming to the runway.”
The promo videos that are released prior to Chasity Aniece Productions’ fashion shows have become the company’s calling card. If one is coming, you know the other is on its ay as well. Why take that extra step for the sake of fashion?
Chasity explained, “Video allows me to expand the world I’m building beyond the stage. It’s a tool that lets me deepen the story, highlight the models’ growth, and give the audience more to feel.”
Plus, she said, “(The video) also pushes the boundaries of what our models can do. They don’t just get runway experience; they gain exposure to print work, acting, and on-camera presence through cinematic storytelling. Each project becomes a portfolio piece they can use to book future work. We’re helping them build real world industry skills and a resume that reflects versatility, not just potential.”
“Siren Echoes of the Deep” fashion show will be held at the Bond Ballroom, 338 Asylum St., Hartford on Sunday, July 27 at 3 p.m. For tickets, visit SIREN: Echoes of the Deep Fashion Show – Chasity Aniece Productions
