Martha’s Vineyard Fashion Week debut event drew a crowd

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A crowd of about 100 — most dressed to impress — were treated to a full-on fashion show on Thursday, April 7, as Martha’s Vineyard Fashion Week held an awareness-raiser and fundraiser party at the new Shephard Fine ArtSpace in Oak Bluffs. Fashion Week will take place this September.

The space, which formerly housed the NYE Gallery, tucked away behind Dukes County Savings Bank on Uncas Avenue, was the scene for a gathering of Island glitterati who showed off a combination of urban and Vineyard styles to rival the spectacular fashions seen on the trendiest red carpet runway.

PIKNIK’s Michael Hunter was the first to present his eclectic collection. Models, both male and female, strolled, sashayed, and even hop-scotched down the red carpet, acting out mini-scenarios that thrilled a rapt crowd seated and standing along the makeshift runway. The styles ranged from casual chic to fun and slightly outrageous with a trend towards layering and mixing plaids and other patterns.

Saskia and David Vanderhoop wowed the crowd with a stylish salsa set between presentations, then Chrysal Parrot debuted a handful of her historically inspired, detail-rich pieces for women. Ms. Parrot, whose fashions were featured in the launch issue of the Island’s Avalon Magazine last year, does custom designs and also sells off-the-rack clothes that display the same flair and lushness as her custom couturier pieces.

Representatives from Angel Flight Northeast, the beneficiaries of Thursday’s event and of the multiple events planned for September, were on hand to describe the pro bono medical transportation that they provide. Pilot and spokesman Dick Sundell called the organization “the Island’s best kept secret” and stressed that he hopes more people in need will be made aware of Angel Flight through the organization’s collaboration with Fashion Week.

The event was hosted by M.V. Fashion Week founder Trena Morrison, and organizers Richard Skidmore, Marlene DiStefano, Basia Jaworska Silva, and Amy Love Heflin. An attractive and tasty finger food spread was presented by Michael Wooley, and hors d’oeuvres provided by V. Jaime Hamlin were passed around. Dancing to tunes by DJ Di followed the show.

A crowd of about 100 – most dressed to impress – were treated to a full-on fashion show on Thursday, April 7, as Martha’s Vineyard Fashion Week held an awareness-raiser and fundraiser party at the new Shepard Fine ArtSpace in Oak Bluffs.

The space, which formerly housed the NYE Gallery, tucked away behind Dukes County Savings Bank on Uncas Avenue, was the scene for a gathering of Island glitterati, who showed off a combination of urban and Vineyard styles to rival the spectacular fashions seen on the red carpet runway.

PIKNIK’s Michael Hunter was the first to present his eclectic collection. Models, both male and female vogued, sashayed, and even hop-scotched down the red carpet, acting out mini scenarios that thrilled a rapt crowd seated and standing along the makeshift runway. The styles ranged from casual chic to fun and slightly outrageous with a trend towards layering and mixing plaids and other patterns.

Saskia and David Vanderhoop wowed the crowd with a stylish salsa set between presentations, then Chrysal Parrot debuted a handful of her historically inspired, detail-rich pieces for women. Ms. Parrot, whose fashions were featured in the launch issue of Avalon Magazine last year, does custom designs and also sells off-the-rack clothes that display the same flair and lushness as her custom couturier pieces.

Representatives from Angel Flight Northeast, the beneficiaries of the multiple events planned for September, were on hand to describe the pro bono medical transportation that they private. Pilot and spokesman, Dick Sundell, called the organization “the Island’s best kept secret” and stressed that he hopes more people in need will be made aware of Angel Flight through the organization’s collaboration with Fashion Week.

The event was hosted by organizers Trena Morrison, Richard Skidmore, Amy Love Heflin, and Basia Jaworska Silva. An attractive and tasty finger food spread was provided by Michael Wooley and V. Jaime Hamlin provided hors d’oeuvres that were passed around. Dancing to tunes by DJ Di followed the show.