It wasn’t Saturday night, but movers and shakers were definitely in the spot — or rather the New Haven Lawn Club — for a funky fashion fundraiser for Liberty Community Services.
Some well-known faces took to the catwalk for the annual Project Style fundraiser for the homeless-services agency. The money raised each year goes toward helping people living with HIV/AIDS, mental illness, and addiction achieve permanent housing in the community. This year’s event raised about $25,000 before auction receipts were totaled.
The event, which is in its fifth year, kicked off this past Wednesday evening with a cocktail hour and silent auction featuring everything from a 16-course “dinner with a mad scientist” at Miya’s Sushi to a “Wisdom of Neville” sewing class with fashion designer Neville Wisdom.
Strutting to Bruno Mars’s “Uptown Funk,” the music and the guest models got the crowd hyped and ready to “hit their hallelujah.” But none of the models had “Chucks on with Saint Laurent” —because attendees were there to see Wisdom’s designs on people they know.
In addition to donating his services to the auction, Wisdom (pictured with his brand manager Lauren Sprague, who served as the event’s stage manager) donated his time, designs and talent producing fashion shows to the event.
John Bradley (pictured), executive director and CEO of Liberty Community Services, said despite tough economic times, the organization has been able to develop solutions that combat homelessness in New Haven including a Gateway Employment Program, an Eviction and Foreclosure Prevention Program, a Security Deposit Guarantee Program and Sunrise Café, which provides free breakfast at Chapel and Olive streets.
Guest model Daisy Abreu (pictured), the former deputy director of the Town Green Special Services District, kicked off the show. She walked first in a sleeveless frock adorned with polka dots and pockets. As Mars crooned, “Gotta kiss myself, I’m so pretty,” she blew a kiss to the crowd.
Ellen Gabrielle, former director of development for Liberty Community Service, garnered a standing ovation as she floated by in an angelic cream-on-cream jacket and dress ensemble that made her the vision of Mars singing, “this hit, that ice cold, Michelle Pfeiffer, that white gold.” The outpouring also was likely because Gabrielle and her longtime commitment to community service make her the living embodiment of one of “them good girls, straight masterpieces.”
The event’s showstopper was U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro. Prior to the show, a young fashionista had stopped DeLauro, known for her funky fashions and matching accessories, to admire one of her rings, while her dad and the Congresswoman talked politics.
In a signature coordinating scarf paired with a white top and denim-blue pants with ruffled embellishment at the waist, DeLauro boogied down the runway and charmed the crowd while “stylin’, wildin’, livin’ it up in the city.”
In addition to seeing some of Wisdom’s designs on the guest models, the audience got a taste of his spring line, which he debuted earlier this month. (“Don’t believe me, just watch”… or read about it here.)
Other guest models for the event included Bun Lai, chef and owner of Miya’s Sushi; Anne Tofflemire, lecturer in acting, Yale School of Drama; Kim Pedrick, owner of Idiom Boutique; Anthony Moir, director of operations for The Study at Yale Hotel; Keron Incarnato, director of AT&T Mobility and Business Solutions; and Alexis Highsmith Smith, deputy director of New Haven LAA.
This is the best outfit I've ever seen the Congresswoman in.
It's wonderful that private fund raising goes on for the homeless, but why doesn't the gov't put more resources into providing housing instead of into the military?
I'd feel safer knowing my fellow citizens aren't destitute than I do knowing there are drones and hi tech weapons out there.