Fashion is fashionable, even for parties at home

Left, event chairman Kay Berning, left and Jeannie Rerucha during the Ability Center Fashion Show. Right, Emma Oravecz displays a coordinating coat and dress.

The Blade/Amy E. Voigt
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From left, Kyle Pinsonneault, VAlentine Ononye, Daniel Dolce at V-Couture in Perrysburg.

Ferragamo, Gucci, Prada, Dior, Chanel, and more. Fashion for this fall, even without a designer name, includes chunky knits, belts, faux furs, boots from short to above the knee, stilettos, platforms, and wedges, military-inspired attire, animal prints (especially leopard), red accents, mixed textures, and men's wear inspired suits with feminine touches. Whether you go to the movies, the opera, the symphony, the art museum, art galleries, theater, antiquing, shopping, lunch, dinner, sporting, or a home party, go in style.

THE AUXILIARY to the Ability Center of Greater Toledo presented “A Fashion Adventure” Sept. 22 at Parkway Place.

The 26th annual event was one big safari with shopping at juried vendors for art, gifts, jewelry, and more, raffle baskets, and a silent auction. A delicious lunch was served at black-covered tables set with bronze-charger plates and centered with safari-style metal boxes filled with greenery, feathers and animal print ribbon. The hand crafted decor by event chairmen Jeannie Rerucha and Kay Berning was sold at the end of the day.

Tolani Afolabi, left, Kate Adams-Nameche, center, and June Sloan walk the catwalk.

At the entrance, a yellow Jeep with a gorilla in the driver's seat invited guests to enjoy the fashion adventure. Inside, a giant giraffe welcomed everyone. Life-sized stuffed animals were everywhere, including on the safari tent stage.

While dining, informal modeling featured Wearable Art by L. Leslie Designs. Safari style tunes added to the scene. The music was purchased in Africa by Laura Rerucha, a model wearing a bridal gown, which was appropriate since she was married to John Rerucha in June at their home in Whitehouse.

Then came the runway show of continuous fashions, leathers, and furs from Chico's, Lady C, Juni Boutique, C.J. Banks, Elegant Rags, Gallippo's, and Roth Furs by nearly 40 models.

More than $20,000 was raised for the Ability Center, which is celebrating its 90th anniversary this year. That's thanks to the committee of nearly 20, the more than 480 attendees, donors, and sponsors including the top banana Hanson, Inc. which provided a video of the services at the center.

V-COUTURE fashions for men opened Oct. 1 at Perry's Landing in Perrysburg with a “Cocktails and Couture” trunk show. And wow! The upscale event was low key for browsing but high class with guests who indulge in high end couture fashions ranging in prices from $70 to $2,000. There were some 150 glitterati who breezed by for a peek.

The shop keeper is Valentine Ononye, who looked quite debonaire as he greeted guests.

World class designer Daniel Dolce was there with spokesmodel Kyle Pinsonneault. Dolce said his shirts are all hand-made in Italy. Cuff links, ranging in price from $160 to $600 per pair, are hand-crafted hand-blown glass that he designed. He said he finds something special in all of the cities he has visited and realizes that while not in New York, people in other cities have appreciation for fashion, too.

Left, event chairman Kay Berning, left and Jeannie Rerucha during the Ability Center Fashion Show. Right, Emma Oravecz displays a coordinating coat and dress.

Other top European design houses represented that night include Bogosse, Zachary Prell, Pal Zileri, and Robert Graham. There are also fashions by Bugatchi, Hudson, LaCoste, Mirto, Rufus, Tateossian London, and True Religion.

For information contact 419-874-5000 or valentine@vcouture.net

FINE dining is always in fashion. On October 1, 1980, Fifi Berry opened Fifi's Restaurant. Fine continental dining in an elegant European atmosphere was based on Ms. Berry's travels, experimental cooking and love of food. Over the past 30 years many engagements, birthdays and anniversaries have been celebrated at Fifi's, along with business and board meetings, mergers and acquisitions.

She has been featured in Martha Stewart's Wedding Pages and has received the Mobile Travel Guide 3 Star Rating, AAA Highest Rating, and many more including receiving the Life Time Achievement Award by the Ohio Restaurant Association. Throughout this month, Fifi will celebrate her 30th anniversary with special events. To kick off the celebration, a fashion show luncheon was Sept. 30.

Here are more upcoming fashion show and shopping opportunities:

• The Sophie Lustig Shop “Fall for October” Trunk Show is today, tomorrow, and Saturday during business hours. For information contact 243-5131. There will be beautiful Shearling vests, jackets, coats; Optimum sweaters; L.Gambert shirts and blouses; Johnston cashmere, and more. You can be the buyer and talk directly to the representative, Barbara Bell.

• The Holiday Trunk Show presented by the Country Garden Club is at Carranor Hunt and Polo Club in Perrysburg. The public event runs 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday, with lunch available from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Tickets are $10 each and may be purchased at the door.

The shopper's paradise, which started in 1987, is headed this year by Virginia Keller. There will be clothing, jewelry, accessories, home decor, and gourmet treats. For information go to trunkshow10@aol.com

• The Beach House Family Shelter “Fashion for a Cause” with threads from Ragazza is 11:30 a.m. Oct. 16 at Treo in Sylvania. Tickets are $25 each and may be purchased at the shelter, Ragazza, or Loft and Home. For information contact Kim at 419-269-0002, Danielle at 419-241-7277 or go to development@beachhousetoledo.org. NOTE to shoppers: There is a raffle that day for a Chicago Magnificent Mile shopping spree, Sylvania shopping spree, a Perrysburg shopping spree, and more. Raffle tickets are $5 each.

• The Toledo Animal Shelter Auxiliary and Assistance Dogs of America “A Walk Down Fifth Avenue” Fashion Show and Luncheon is Oct. 28 at Inverness Club. For information go to www.benefitfashionshow.com or contact the charitable offices.