Fashion, fun and fundraising was at the forefront of The Players Community Senior Center summer fashion show June 30.
The intergenerational fashion show featured volunteer models from the community. A group of mostly high school-aged students including girls from Atlantic Coast Dance Studio and Nease High School modeled surf and skate wear, swim suits and dresses from Jacksonville Beach’s Sunrise Surf Shop, while mature women – made up of community-minded volunteers including a hairdresser and personal care assistant – modeled fashions from Jacksonville’s Petunia Patch.
“We did (a fashion show) about a year ago and it was successful,” senior center Coordinator Darlene Mahany said, noting that last year’s show featured fashions exclusively from Petunia Patch. For this year’s show, she said, the center decided to expand the fashion show to include other retailers.
Violinist Rosemary Jones, accompanied by one of her students, and pianist Ian Anderson provided music entertainment before the start of the show.
Diane Wright, who has been volunteering at the senior center for the past five years, organized the event.
“It’s quite a feat to get this many volunteers together and coordinate this type of event,” Wright admitted, as she thanked all of the volunteers who made this event possible.
The 23 models involved with the event attended three practice rehearsals and helped sell tickets to the fashion show.
Petunia Patch owner Peggy Johnson, who teaches fashion and has written books on the subject, gave the audience tips as the models displayed her boutique’s fashions.
“It’s so amazing what you can get when you plan your wardrobe,” Johnson said as she pointed to three bottoms and five tops that the models were wearing that can be cross-coordinated to make 15 different outfits – perfect for overseas vacations or cruises when you want to pack light, according to Johnson.
Clothing modeled included palazzo pants, capris, prints, travel wear, Fourth of July festive wear and basic mix-and-match items.
Fashions from LuLaRoe, an online fashion boutique, were shown on a television screen during the event. At the event’s conclusion, attendees had the chance to shop for fashions in one of the senior center’s rooms. Attendees could also shop from their smart phone or tablet during the show.
Table vendors who helped sponsor the event included Carol Logan, Mary Kay; Karina Coryell, KC’s Kitchen; Jennifer Redigan, Clarity Pointe; Karen Cirillo, Initials, Inc.; Rosemary Jones, private music lessons; Kimberly Hunt, Gavotte School of Music; Lisa Atkinson, Home Instead; and Claire Favo, Claire’s Wears. Proceeds from the event will be used to fund senior center programs.
