The jewels of Sarasota
Designing Women Boutique held a spectacular cabaret-style show and dinner at the Asolo Repertory Theatre to benefit Sarasota arts, endowments, and community projects. Especially honored were 12 community arts organizations: The Jewels of Sarasota.
The evening began with cocktails and boutique shopping in the foyer; 270 guests then moved toward the theatre for a fabulous style show and stage performance produced and emceed by by our own Carolyn Michel, featuring clothes from Designing Women Boutique. The evening ended with dinner and dessert served in an enormous white tent which magically had appeared in the Asolo parking lot.
The mission of Designing Women Boutique is visionary: "To meaningfully grow the funding for our community’Äôs arts, endowment and human services through innovative marketing of unique couture apparel and fine home furnishings." With that in mind, tastefully chosen clothing, objects and jewelry had been set out for sale in the foyer, and the room was abuzz with the chatter of happy shoppers.
Founder/CEO Jean Weidner stood near the door greeting guests. Event Co-Chairs Mary Ann Robinson and Chris Currie were chatting with friends, as were Margaret Wise and Diane Roskamp, co-founders and vice-presidents. Board member Molly Schechter kept everything happening, as did fashion show stylist Jewel Ash.
Jewel Ash, chair of calendar and style show. Photos by Frank Colson.
At 6:30, members of the press were whisked behind the curtain to capture photos of community models preparing for their turn on stage. Richard Winetraub and his merry band of beauty magicians from Yellow Strawberry Global Hair Salon were busily wielding blow dryers and mascara wands. Thirty-four of Sarasota’Äôs "liveliest and loveliest" women were in process of becoming even more dazzling for their moment on the Asolo stage.
(L. to r.) Margaret Wise, Mary Ann Robinson and Jean Weidner.
At 7 p.m., it was time for the curtain. The talented Carolyn Michel stepped forward, stunning in a short strapless black dress with a rose petal skirt. After a brief introduction, the West Coast Black Theatre Group presented a riveting rendition of "Proud Mary"; then Sarasota Opera presented an aria from "Figaro" sung by Marco Nistico; a group of muscular male dancers from Sarasota Ballet performed a dazzling excerpt from "Troy Games"; and two daring aerialists from Circus Sarasota ’Äì Erendira Troffer and Lijana Hernandez ’Äì mirrored each other while performing on "The Silks." In between each of these performances, the fabulous models of Designing Women Boutique moved smartly to pulsing, energetic music, tightly choreographed by Jimmy Hoskins.
Kit Carson from Yellow Strawberry Global Hair Salon fixes the hair of model Vickie Hornberger for the style show.
Siesta Key’Äôs Emily Walsh Parry and Hillary Steele looked gorgeous on stage, as did Vicki Hornberger, Chris Pfahler, Dr. Anne Chauvet, Wendy Resnick, Dottie Baer Garner and Nikki Sedacca, to name but a few. The entire group of 34 ladies was electric as they modeled clothes for "sunny days, luncheons and cruise-wear" as well as "sexy nights, cocktail wear, evening gowns, evening suits and fur"’Ķ green fur, that is’Ķ recycled fur.
Jeff and Vivie Porterfield enjoy the shopping.
A delicious dinner was catered in the tent by Michaels’Äô on East. During dessert, a live auction was energetically auctioneered by Michael Klauber himself.
Through 2007, Designing Women Boutique has donated approximately $800,000 to more than 50 arts and human services organizations. To help these coffers grow, visit their fascinating shop at 1226 North Tamiami Trail at 13th Street. It is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday. Telephone: 366-5293.
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