Loose Leaf Notes

The following was published in The Floyd Press on October 16, 2008

1. Attendees of last Saturday’s Charity Fashion Show and Silent Auction had a bright and breezy autumn day to enjoy a colorful sampling of some of Floyd’s finest fashions.

2. Tammy Lemons (pictured right), Area Director of The New River Community Action Center (NRCA), said proceeds from the benefit event will go to The Floyd Emergency Fund, an NRCA program that assists families in need pay for rent, electric, water, heating oil, medical prescriptions, and gas. Held in conjunction with Poverty Awareness Month, the event came “just in time for winter,” Lemons said, referring to the high cost of home heating and the troubled economy.

3. Pat Shelor, who has served for many years on the NRCA board of directors and is a current member of the NRCA advisory board, came up with the fashion show idea and organized the event. “It’s a win-win,” Shelor said. The fundraiser promotes shopping locally, offers an enjoyable activity in a lawn party setting, and raises money for a worthy cause.

4. The gardens behind the home of Tom and Jeanie O’Neill and The Jeanie O’Neill Studio provided a festive backdrop for the fall fashion show. Host, Jeanie O’Neill also MC’d the event, describing the fashion ensembles and citing which local stores they came from as the models made their way to a gazebo stage. O’Neill’s own one-of-a-kind handmade bags and fashions from her Boutique shop were also showcased.

5. Fashions represented on the day’s grassy runway ranged from period pieces, provided by Floyd Antiques, to stylishly thrifty Angels in the Attic outfits. Abraham Cherrix said the Floyd Antiques’ tailed tuxedo he wore was made in 1910. His black and white patent dress shoes were provided by McCabes Clothing Store, as were other men’s fashions of the day. Other stores represented included The Meadows, Little Dress Shop, and The Floyd Country Store.

6. Attendees and volunteer models browsed through the silent auction items or enjoyed cider and hot stew under lawn furniture umbrellas, while NRCA advisory board member Bobbi Shoemaker announced door prize winners at the mic. Sue Nunn, who modeled clothing from The Meadows, won a box of chocolates from Nancy’s Candy Store. Another fashion show attendee won a Crooked Road T-shirt.

7. Lemons said she was grateful for the efforts of the fashion show volunteers, calling them “invaluable.” Shelor said she would like to see the event become an annual fundraiser.

8. An evening fashion show serving wine and appetizers was scheduled to follow the daytime show.
Photos — Just some of those taken that day: 1. Fashion show attendees socializing under lawn chair umbrellas. 2. NRCA area director, Tammy Lemons served cider to models and fashion show attendees. 3. Sally Johnson started the show with an outfit that cost under $20 from Angels in the Attic. 4. Jeanie O’Neil introduced each model by describing what they were wearing and telling the audience what local shop their outfits came from. 5. Coriander Woodruff and Bethlehem Cherrix stroll in their period attire, provided by Floyd Antiques on Locust Street. 6. Barb Gillespie in one of her several changes, wearing Jeanie O’Neill from head to toe and carrying one of O’Neill’s signature designer bags. O’Neill pointed out that many of the shoes she sells are made from recycled tires. 7. Lorrie Morris models a complete ensemble. Everything from her socks to her hat came from The Meadows. 8. Kay Gordon said she first wore her red Angels in the Attic gown to the Friday Night Jamboree when a friend offered to make a donation to the charity of her choice if she would. More recently, Gordon found matching red pantaloons to complete her look, also from Angels in the Attic. She estimated her outfit to have cost about $15.