The fashionable, charitable place to be earlier this month was Inspired Home Interiors where for more than two hours models paraded through the store in the latest fashions and stiletto shoes.
Simply dubbed the Charity Fashion Event, the show hosted by Inspired Home Interiors raised $235 for Second Chance Animal Rescue and 75 pounds of food for the St. Albert Food Bank.
It was a true fashion show with models representing eight local businesses parading down a special white-rug runway, which Inspired Home Interiors owner Alana Schilf rented just for the event. Some 50 guests watched the show through the evening as they nibbled on hors d’oeuvres and sipped wine provided by restaurants from the Shops on Boudreau.
“We set up our show room with the guests along the side and the fashion runway down the centre of the store. What was amazing to me was how the St. Albert businesses took part. There are a lot of St. Albert shops now that sell fashion,” Schilf said.
Participating St. Albert fashion houses included Bella Maas, Cerulean Boutique, Cloud 9 Pajamas, 3 Girls Swim & Wear, Who Cares? Wear, Tokota Shoes, Frock Box and Apollo Originals. Track ’N Trails, from Edmonton, also provided fashions.
The businesses provided a mix of casual and formal wear and of course some new trends could be seen, Schilf said as she explained that at least two online fashion stores were included.
“We just put out the word and businesses stepped up for it,” she said.
The models had their hair and make-up done at the event as they hurried between changing fashions. And there were some new trendy fashion items for them to wear.
“Some of the swimwear was really trendy. The trend now is to wear chokers with your bikini. The chokers are like a necklace, but made from the bikini material,” said Karly Ruller, a sales staff member at Inspired Home Interiors.
This was the second annual Charity Fashion Show, and Ruller explained that a fashion show was suitable for an interior design studio.
“We are all women here. We love fashion and at the show there was everything from semi-casual, to dinner dresses, to jean outfits and shoes. There was something for every demographic,” she said.
The success of this year’s fashion show has Schilf determined to make sure it happens again, but her small shop meant only a limited number of guests could attend.
“Hopefully next year we can organize it in a larger venue,” Schilf said.
