Event report by Karen Laharty     |         November 28, 2009

There was fun, food and fashion on Friday, November 27 as the Sooke Harbour House hosted its first fashion show as part of the Sooke Harbour House’s Christmas in November event. A portion of the proceeds from the evening, which included sweets, savouries and fizzy drinks as well as a feast for the fashion-conscious eye, went to the Sooke Transition House.

It was standing room only as the emceed show got under way with a colourful display of co-ordinated tops, skirts, dresses and purses from The Studio on Whiffen Spit at 1575 Whiffen Spit Road, owned by Phyllis Lysionek. She takes thrift store finds and turns several different items of clothing into one new original piece of wearable art. Next came comfortable easy to wear organic fashions from Jennifer Graham’s Salts Studio Boutique, located at 2052 Otter Point Road. The line of environmentally-conscious clothing was followed by vintage clothing finds, some reminiscent of the Bogart and Bacall era, from the closet of Sooke Harbour House co-owner Frederique Philip and other sources.

The Potlatch Room in the Sooke Harbour House was a cozy setting for the event although there was a bit of a scramble as show time approached to find enough seats for the unexpected overflow crowd. Admission was $10 and at $5 each for the food and beverage offerings, it was an inexpensive way to spend a Friday night in a trendy way while supporting a local charity. Attendees were given a number to use for auction house style bidding on most of the fashions that were beautifully displayed by the petite-to-plus-size local models. Their professional looks were topped off by exquisite hair designs done by Pure Elements and makeup by Le Sooke Spa.

Ms. Phillip said there are plans to host a similar event in the spring, possibly in May, outdoors under the Sooke Harbour House’s garden tent.

More information about the next fashion show and its participating artists is available from Sooke Harbour House.

Overall, the event was a first for the Sooke community -- in terms of fashion, the economy and something to do for a local Friday night out.
 

   MM

See another story leading up to the eco fashion show event, by Mackenzie Fisher (Nov.09/09).