Last night I was genuinely honored to attend the Silhouette of a Woman fashion show in Poughkeepsie, which benefited the Miles of Hope Breast Cancer Foundation. I wrote about the event just recently, where you can find all of the details and a link to donate to the foundation as well. The event was comprised entirely of local businesses, embracing at once the city’s history as well as its local survivors and the many women who work ceaselessly to raise awareness and help others affected. My aunt Jennifer is one of those people, whose efforts to aid breast cancer survivors and sufferers can be seen through her work as both a volunteer and a businesswoman. She took part in the event through her hair salon, Cartier’s Hair Design, and I was so excited to be able to be there to support her. There was a genuine sense of joie de vivre wrapped around the gorgeous Bardavon Theater that night, and in a way it seemed like everyone was stopping to commemorate life itself.
I was so happy to be given a press pass for the event, which allowed me and my (very) amateurish attempts at photography a ticket backstage and beyond. I’m less than proficient with a camera, but I did my best!
Jennifer working hard behind-the-scenes.
Cocktails and mingling before the show.
The evening’s marvelous emcee, Michael Gordon, and his daughter Joceyln Gordon Klastow of Zimmer Brothers Jewelers.
The fabulous Bardavon.
Favorite moments from the show…
After the fashion show, the breast cancer survivors were all recognized among the models. I didn’t get pictures of everyone, though I do have all of their names so I’d like to acknowledge them here as well. This was such a moving and inspirational moment; I think pictures say thousands of words here.
Carla Bailey, 8 months and 3 weeks survivor
Dawn Bernitt Perito, 6.5 year survivor
Mary Ann Bopp, 13 years and 9 months survivor
Ellen Crimmins, 1 year and 1 month survivor
Michelle DeGraf, 10 year survivor
Dana Effron, 16 year survivor
Sharon Fleury, 23 year survivor
Pat Harding, 3 year survivor
Lynne Kopac, 9 year survivor
Mary Ann Leddy, 27 year survivor
Theresa Levitch, 4 year survivor
Madeline Manzella, 32 year survivor
Nancy Miller, 3 year survivor
Melissa Pettinella, 11 year survivor
Bernadette Pikul, 2.5 year survivor
Mary Ritter, 11 month survivor
Marabeth Robinson, 8 year survivor
Robin Smith, 11.5 year survivor
Lyndsey Wessels, 5 year survivor
Survivors in the audience were also recognized.
The women responsible for making the event happen!
Fashion and beauty by:
Elizabeth Boutique
Mary H. Abdoo & You
Quackles
Up-to-Date
Waddle n Swaddle
Bella Luci Salon
Cartier’s Hair Design
Collage Hair and Colour
New Creations Hair Salon
Zimmer Brothers Jewelers
Countless thanks to them, and to everyone involved in bringing Silhouette of a Woman to fruition; it was such a tremendous experience. I’m so glad I had the opportunity to be there and that I’m able to share it with all of you!
For me, the night was as much about celebrating Jennifer and the ways she inspires me as it was about celebrating so many other things. She’s an active participant in the American Cancer Society’s Look Good…Feel Better program which aims to support breast cancer sufferers through self-esteem and the power of beauty. She’s been recognized for her efforts in The Poughkeepsie Journal, YBNLive.com and MidHudsonCentral.com, among many other honors. I’m so proud of the work she does and the effortless way she instills hope and happiness into the lives of everyone around her. She’s truly a remarkable woman.
I’ll be posting a full set of photos (yes, there’s more where this came from!) on The Girl Who Stole the Eiffel Tower’s Facebook page shortly so stay tuned! And, as always, thanks so much for reading. xoCM
{ 20 comments… read them below or add one }
Looks like a fun event! Everyone looks fabulous!
Thanks, Heidi! It was definitely fun, such a cool experience.
What a wonderful event! The photos you took are great! It looks like everyone had such a lovely night. I’m glad all of the survivors in the crowd got a moment of spotlight, too.
Aww, thanks so much, Holly! It was my first time using a DSLR so I was a little worried I was going to ruin all the photos… I’m glad they turned out! And definitely, it was so nice that they recognized the survivors in the audience as well. It was really special.
Really a great event. Breast Cancer has been a big deal in my family this year, so all of the related posts this October have meant a lot to me…
Thanks, Alexis; I wish you could’ve been at this event, I’m sure you would have been moved by it, as I was. It’s such a scary issue that has affected so many women, but they really inspired so much hope and awareness through this fashion show.
It was a wonderful evening celebrating Breast Cancer month! As a survivor of
approximately 10 months, I was happy to be part of the evening. Recognizing all
breast cancer survivors to conclude the evening was joyable , with a feeling of
fellowship and encouragement for the future.
Thank you, Mary Anne! I completely agree, it was such a special night and I’m so glad I was able to be there to share in the joy, triumph and celebration of the evening. And congratulations to you on your survival; I’m sure that made the event touch your heart even more.
THESE moments are the ones that make you realize how very important, crucial even, it is to be glamorous, not only on the facade, but also *within* you. All of these women are glamorous because they put on their best galas in order to fight – and WIN – one of the toughest battles out there. My respect and love to all of them, and also to the people who support the battle vs breast cancer, like your aunt Jenniffer.
Thanks for such a moving, meaningful post darling!!! xoxoxo
You said it all so perfectly; thank you, sweets, and I’m so glad you enjoyed seeing the event through “my eyes”, as it were. It’s really affirming to be reminded of the “importance to be glamorous within”, as you said, even if you’ve never fought that battle. It reminds you of the important things in life and the strength within you, as a woman. So inspiring!
Everyone looks fabulous and those pink streaks have me anxious to get mine (I’m waiting till after the baby is born).
Oh, what fun! I was going to get a pink extension myself, but I ran out of time before the event!
Such a great event. Everybody looks fabulous and yay for all the survivors!
Thanks, Rachel! They all looked wonderful, and you could tell they felt fabulous which just made everything even more beautiful!
What an awesome event! Everyone looks beautiful! I love that cape with the fur!!!
Thanks, Steph! Everyone looked amazing and they were all in such great spirits. The cape is one of my favorites, too, so pretty (and love the color). That particular survivor is modeling one of the wigs that my aunt makes as part of the Look Good…Feel Better program with the American Cancer Society – I didn’t even know it was a wig until she told me!
It looked a great event, you looked great too btw. I’m guessing the models of the show were the survivors of cancer, if so it’s great to get them in involved and pampered to make them feel amazing. Rather than just put on a standard fashion show to raise some money.
Thanks so much, Arash! And you’re right, quite a few of the models were survivors – some were also relatives or friends of those with breast cancer, to my understanding. The focus and recognition for the survivors definitely made the event take on an even more intimate and special feeling, and throughout the whole event there was never any question what we were all there celebrating. I agree, to just attach a cause to something unrelated can often feel a little disjointed, and they definitely went out of their way to put the focus where it ought to be. It was very cool.
OMG, I am crying!!! Stop it! I wish I was able to attend, but it was so impossible. My aunt, who is like my second mama is a 1 year survivor, and my cousin is a 10 year survivor of breast cancer so this is a cause so dear to my heart. My aunt actually received her wig from the Look Good Feel better program here in NY and it made a tremendous difference for her. She actually didn’t care about losing her hair, but we had a huge family wedding to attend and she didn’t want people to think that is the woman with cancer. The Look Good…Feel Better people helped her choose a wig and then styled it on her and she felt beautiful the day of the big event. Endless endless hugs to Jennifer for participating and making a difference.
Thank you so much for this comment, Jamillah! It made me so, so happy, I can’t even tell you. I wish you could’ve been at the event, too, but I absolutely understand why you couldn’t. Maybe next year, if they do it again!
I’m so glad I was able to be there and share it on the blog, though, and it’s even more special to know about your aunt and cousin. My aunt Jennifer is so passionate about the Look Good Feel Better program and it’s always wonderful to hear about patients who’ve received wigs from them and how it’s helped. I’ll definitely let her know about your aunt, I’m sure she’ll be so touched to hear. (:
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