Saratoga News
Cover Story
Photograph by George Sakkestad
Cindy Teerlink, a Saratoga real estate agent and fitness instructor, works the crowd at the annual fashion show to benefit the Village.
Fashion Statement
Models walk the runway to raise money for the Saratoga Village Development Council
By Shannon Burkey
It was an evening of glitz, glamour, fun and fashion as Saratogans, dressed in their finest, came out for the annual fashion extravaganza to benefit their beloved Village.
The show is the Saratoga Village Development Council's one fundraiser for the year, and all the proceeds go to sprucing up and promoting the Village.
The second annual fashion show, emceed by Councilman Chuck Page, brought 130 people to the Foothill Club and raised a little more than $7,000 for the SVDC.
"I loved the fashion show," said Saratoga resident Laurel Perusa. "It was such a wonderful community event. There was such a warm, happy, joyful energy in the Foothill Club. Where else can one go to have such an astounding experience?"
The clothing, from fashion meccas such as Paris and Milan, were on loan from Flobell Boutique.
"There was such a great team of models this year. It was fantastic," Flobell co-owner Flora Gendelman said. "Everybody looked beautiful."
The fashions may have come from around the world, but the models were all Saratoga. Wanting the event to be unique and very community-oriented, chairwoman Jill Hunter recruited only women who live or work in the area.
Saratoga resident Judy Ting, who walked the runway for her first time, brought along 25 friends and family members for moral support.
"The first time I walked out there I was really nervous, but by the last outfit I wanted to keep walking," she said. "I felt more comfortable and relaxed when I saw all my friends. They cheered a lot for me so I wasn't so nervous anymore."
The Village shops and restaurants all came together to make this year's show a true community event. Food was provided by 13 Village restaurants; Cinnabar Vineyards, Conrado Cellars and La Mere Michelle donated the wine; and more than 60 items were donated from Village shops for a silent auction.
"Everybody was so generous," Hunter said. "I am astounded at how much the Village merchants and restaurants gave."
After hearing about all of the things merchants were donating, Perusa decided she also wanted to contribute and knitted a scarf to donate to the silent auction.
"This was a unique event, and everyone really pulled together and contributed in their area of expertise," Perusa said. "Saratoga has a special sense of community and I don't think you could have the same type of event in a bigger community."
Hunter said the SVDC has already earmarked the money for a few things.
"We are going to buy plaques for six of the historical buildings in the Village that give the history and significance of the building," Hunter said. "We will be working with the historical foundation and the museum to get the right wording and the correct history."
In an effort to help promote the area, the council also plans to have brochures made that detail all the Village shops and restaurants. The remaining money will go toward providing music and entertainment for the events the council sponsors in the Village, including the St. Patrick's Day party and the Witchy-Walk-About.
"The whole objective of the SVDC is to increase foot traffic in the Village, and I think these things will really help make that happen," Hunter said. "The money we made this year should keep us in pretty good shape through the next year."
