GENUINE fashion was front and centre at Tea Gardens Lions Op Shop Fashion Show at Hawks Nest Hall on Sunday.
Weeks of planning and hours of practice were invested in the event, including an epic deep-dive into the stocks of the four local-area Op Shops.
Organiser and Lions club member, Carole Richards, along with several Op Shop volunteers and Lions fashionistas, built a show for the ages, including choreography with musical accompaniment.
The show raised money and support for domestic violence victims through the good work of the new Port Stephens Domestic Violence Centre for Women and Children.
Before the show got under way, the centre’s assistant manager, Ann Fletcher, delivered a frank call for clarity and education about the realities of domestic violence.
Her sobering speech laid bare realities that many hadn’t understood.
The eight local models – Paula, Cindy, Roz, Janie, Judy, Elizabeth and two Sharons – filled the spotlights in front of an audience of more than 160.
All clothes were sourced from local Op Shops, with outfits priced as low as $8.
The local models, several veterans of previous shows, strutted the stage, radiating supreme confidence and composure, showcasing the surprisingly diverse range of items that can be had at the local Op Shops.
There were royal blue dresses, sheer camisoles, fun-patterned blouses, wild scarves, jewellery composed of all kinds of materials, floaty tops, floral patterns, spotted wraparounds, sleeveless numbers, chic hats, and even a few fascinators, covering multiple themes including ‘Fun’, ‘Shades of Blue’, ‘Mixed Bag’, ‘Accessories’, ‘Melbourne Cup’, ‘Dresses’, and ‘Christmas’.
The emcee for the event was local resident Maggie Nadal, alongside local DJ Jomeca.
Jomeca’s musical choices were spot on: the audience was delighted to have international-level talent support the event.
Plants supplied by local Woody’s Nursery adorned the hall and were up for sale after the show, along with all the featured fashions and local artist Tim Henman’s unique ‘house’ bags.
Local accredited Zumba instructor, Jan Walker, ran a mini-session to showcase some activewear, flanked by Terri and Yola.
Formal going-out wear, sundresses, tops and bottoms, festive season items – even some choice options for last-minute Melbourne Cup outfits, complete with fascinating fascinators – showcased with style, elegance, and creativity only sought to underscore the sentiments Maggie Nadal put so eloquently.
“You don’t need a runway to be fashionable, and you don’t need designer labels to be stylish,” she said
“Confidence and shopping at our local fabulous Op Shops definitely remain the must-have accessory.
“Given the state of things these days, it is good to know that you can be very fashionable on a budget, which is what the show made clear,” Richards added.
“This does not happen overnight, so a huge thanks to the helpers, Maggie and Jomeca, and our special guest speaker, Ann Fletcher.”
The show was followed by a door prize and raffle draw, with several lucky winners taking away all kinds of useful prizes, before the door was opened and everything was up for grabs to round out an excellent morning.
By Thomas O’KEEFE
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