For many, it made sense -- fashion sense, that is, to attend one of the several fashion shows around town this spring, whether it was to sew up money for a cause, or just to have a stitch of fun.
It s the year of sizzle: add a scarf, a belt, a purse, a hat, and have fun. After all, Jean Smith, who s known as the guru of fashion-show coordination, says, Fashion is what you buy, style is the way you wear it.
Colors are bright: pink, green, orange, and more. Knee-length shorts are in as are cropped pants and flowing skirts. Either way, those who saw the shows are now in the know: it s white, big sunglasses and wide belts!
COMING up is the Fashion, Food, and Fun event to support the Toledo Animal Shelter on Wednesday at Inverness Club. The fashion showcase by Lady C is presented by the auxiliary and will benefit our furry friends.
WHILE the title was Remember When, May s Glass City Chapter of International Association of Administrative Professionals style show highlighted today s fashions. The reminiscing part came from the international group s 60th anniversary and the local chapter s 35th. Plus, it noted the changes during that time from a predominantly all-male world to a mainly all-woman s world. From filing and fetching coffee, to running the show, baby, they ve come a long way. The fashions have too. Coldwater Creek, with volunteer models, gave guests a review of what to wear for today s business and pleasure.
Chairmen were Amy Tingley and JoAnn Romero. The president is Charlene Hanson-Morlock. The estimated $1,000 net proceeds benefit the Steinke Scholarship Fund.
TRULY fashion-ating was St. Luke s Hospital Auxiliary style show, Fashionation 2006, held in the hospital auditorium at lunch and at dinner. Sears fashions for men, women, and children were modeled by volunteers, including music and media types such as Terry Thill, Brittany Barhite, Eddie Boggs, and Joe Rychnovsky, with Harvey Steele and Mary Beth Zolik as emcees. Among the 250 guests for the two shows was event chairman Diane Slomkowski and co-chairman Julie Oppenlander. The proceeds went toward the $80,000 the auxiliary gave to the hospital for new equipment and other needed projects.
BRAVO! Toledo Opera Guild presented The Three Divas style show at Inverness Club. And what a trio it was. From the three models featured on the fancy invitations to the three stellar fashion peddlers of Chico s, Coldwater Creek, and Talbots, to the diva trio of Opera chorus members, Sandra Honemann, Joan Layne, and Connie Randall, everything just sang! A sellout crowd of 250 enjoyed a tasty lunch at tables centered with giant pots of red geraniums, which were sold later.
Mr. Entertainer s music and the fashion review kept things at a peppy pace with Jean Smith, style show guru, at the helm.
Stylishly strutting and all smiles were community volunteers, including Toledo First Lady Amy Finkbeiner, Gail Brant, Diane Breese, Leah D Emilo, Faye Fenwick, Kelly Martin, Kristin More, Laura Noble, Kelly DeMarco, Pat Robinson, Sandra Seiple, and Kodak the Pomeranian, owned by Angie Patchen.
The afternoon ended on a high note with a spectacular raffle. Carol Sizemore won some luggage. Patty Byrne won her favorite Godiva chocolates. Other prizes included a glass flower by artist Steven Cothern, an Elizabeth Koster painting, a tourmaline and peridot necklace from Barrow s Jewelers, and sunglasses from Lynch Optical.
Chairman Sharon Lynch reports a net of $6,600 for the Toledo Opera.
Mrs. Smith, next year s chairman, has started plans for the May, 2007 show, which will be a 007 and the Bond Girls theme.
COLORS for the Cures Dinner, Style Show and Auction in April at Gladieux Meadows was extra heartwarming. This is the first year the Cancer Society benefit has been named in memoriam for someone locally, Laurie Gladieux, daughter of Ken Lay of Ottawa Hills and wife of Tim Gladieux, the head of Gladieux Enterprises. The event honored all those touched by cancer.
Guests sipped and nibbled as they perused the silent auction items. Emcee Susan Ross Wells of WTVG 13 kept the night on target. Special guest Christine Brennan, a childhood friend of the late Mrs. Gladieux, related with a smile, heart-warming stories that illustrated Mrs. Gladieux selflessness and her zest for life, even when confronting her cancer. Golf pal Jane Larsen talked of her friend, who wanted to change the event from only women to include spouses.
Tonight is a testimony to her vision and we are happy to implement her plan, Mrs. Larsen noted.
Then it was show time! Cancer survivors Tricia Applehans, Steven Flowers, Cathy Freesen, Wendy Goldstein, Eleanor Hall, Michele Hensien, Percilla Hutchins, Jon Jensen, Mary Ann Kline, Malinda Meinhardt, and Beverly Porter strutted in fashions from Lady C, Brandywine Country Club Pro Shop, and Elegance with Style.
Chairmen Margo Leininger and Marty Campana are all smiles over the more than $50,000 net.
THE Toledo Metropolitan Ladies Club luncheon in April at HJ s Prime Cut Banquet Facility included a spring hat show featuring the private collection of Rebecca Ott, Marie Garlick, and Shirley Dunbar. Guests wore chapeaus too, which gave the event even more flair. The club selects one charity to sponsor each year. This year the feather in the hat went to the Battered Women s Shelter, which was given $1,500 and supplies.
CATAWBA Island Club hosted a its style show with men and women s apparel by New Port Dry Goods. Guests browsed the trunk-show items and enjoyed the show.
OFTEN noted as the First Lady of Fashion shows was Mary Flood. The late Mrs. Flood, who died April 27, will be missed for her grace, wit, and charm, the last of a dying breed of true ladies. Among the several organizations for which she modeled was the Toledo Hospital Croxton House, where she modeled for 50 years. Over the years she modeled for retailers such as LaSalle s, Roth Furs, and Lamson s, advertising brochures, and churches.
TOLEDO Country Club hosted a ladies lunch and fashion show just for fun. After lunch, volunteers strolled around in sundresses and cocktail attire from Ragazza and Lily Whitestone shops. Regazza, a new shop in Perrysburg, owned by Pat Meyer and Jane Wurth, refer to their threads as classic with a hip twist. Ms. Meyer also owns Lily Whitestone.
JUST as spring was about to be sprung, the Garden Club Forum hosted a show of Lady C apparel. Peppy summer tunes and cars marked Classy Chassis Scintilla at Stranahan Great Hall. Car doors, mini classic cars, hubcaps, posters, and race flags, set the scene. Then the real classy chassis accelerated down the runway in fashions fit for yachting, golfing, and cruising around town.
Extra special for Mary Madigan, Sharon Lynch, Carol Nunemaker, Mary Ann Dionyssiou, and Barbara Treuhaft was winning the raffle: $10,000 split five ways. The proceeds go to Toledo Botanical Garden s proposed Children s Garden.
General chairman Mona Macksey was assisted by show coordinator Darlene Carpenter and a host of volunteers from all of the 15 member clubs.
A net of $8,000 will benefit TBG s Intern Program, scholarships, and civic beautification says forum club president is Rosalie Ovenden.
Lourdes College Auxiliary March lunch included a mini fashion show by B.J. Stiles and Dillards. It was an up-close peek into the warm-weather fashions. Hostesses were Carol Dymczyk and Ann Marie Mendel.
First Published June 5, 2006, 2:05 p.m.
