MARYSVILLE The couture hit the catwalk last week at the Marysville Strawberry Festival Fashion Show, where many of the citys newest retailers joined the longstanding tradition at the June 12 exposition.
Local teens and recent high school graduates modeled the latest styles from big name fashion houses while the show went local at the same time. Several students from the Art Institute of Seattle had their designs in the affair, an innovation that brought many new and unique clothes to an audience for the very first time.
The weather at Leifer Manor was as beautiful as the offerings on the models as they padded through the crowded tables of one of the Strawberry Festivals oldest events, which helps raise funds for scholarships for the festival court. About 200 people munched on the light luncheon of tea sandwiches and fresh fruit and petit fours arranged by Clipper Cove Catering. Clipper Cover owner Cheryl Caudle also dished on the attire, emceeing the event and announcing the offerings and accessories from Ellen Tracy, Hoity Toity, Gottschalks, Fashion Bug, Nike, Fred Meyer, K-Mart, Wal-Mart, J.C. Penney and the Assistance League of Everett.
In addition to the professionals, four students of fashion design studying at the Seattle Art Institute had their works on display. They were Elise Alonzo, Sheryl Esendencia, Holly Magnuson and Virginia Walker. All of their collections drew a warm response from the crowd as the models twirled through the maze of tables under the big tent.
For recent Marysville-Pilchuck High School graduate Amanda Bates it was the first time she had ever modeled anything in her life and she had a blast.
I thought it was really fun, Bates said after the final sally, adding that in some ways it was just like being back at home: her mother Teresa is on the fashion show organizing committee, Bates explained.
My mom usually helps dress me, she laughed.
This was Teresas third year with the show.
I do it for fun, she explained.
Pamela Knechtel came all the way from Federal Way with her mother to see her niece Amanda in her debut, and she raved about the performance, and the chance to meet and greet Marysville folks.
She did really well, they all did really well, Knechtel said.
Beside munching on the cucumber sandwiches, the crowd was contributing to a big part of the Strawberry Festival agenda, according to Maryfest board member Carol Kapua.
Its community involvement and its to raise money for the scholarship fund, Kapua said.
More than 25 local businesses donated items for several gift baskets raffled throughout the day with the Strawberry Festival Royalty calling out the winners and handing over the swag. It was a fun time for mostly female crowd to chat and socialize while models switched their outfits from one collection to another.