Inspired by the shimmery, sparkly designs of Kate Spade, Barrington Junior Women’s Club gears up for its annual day of shopping, champagne, lunch, and runway fashion. Cue the confetti…
Got sparkle? Then you won’t want to miss this year’s Barrington Junior Women’s Club fashion show inspired by the crisp color, graphic prints, and playful sophistication of designer Kate Spade—not to mention the fashion icon’s Kate Spade & Company Foundation, which empowers women to transform their communities through trade-based initiatives.
“Kate Spade is all about getting women involved in their communities,” says Priscilla Morrison, co-chair with Jessica Young. “It is the reason why we chose this theme, because of what Kate Spade stands for. It ties in well with what Juniors does.”
This is the first time that Morrison and Young, both members of BJWC for the past five years, have chaired the popular fashion show event.
“Priscilla and I grew up here,” says Young. “Juniors joins the entire community together, and helps women meet so
many more people.”
Founded in 1936, the BJWC seeks to improve the lives of women, children, and senior citizens in the Barrington area community through philanthropy. Among its annual initiatives are Safety Town, Meals with Wheels, and annual Scholarships to Barrington High School seniors.
Jessica Young is wearing the Dionne dress by Brock.
Priscilla Morrison’s blue lace and flower dress is from Gucci. PHOTOGRAPHY BY FRANK ISHMAN; HAIR AND MAKEUP BY CONSTANTINE JAMES, COSBAR; DRESSES PROVIDED BY NEAPOLITAN, WINNETKA; JEWELRY COURTESY OF HEADS UP BOUTIQUE, BARRINGTON
This August marked 20 years of BJWC’s support of Safety Town’s permanent site, which is a miniature town that features a functioning railroad crossing donated by Union Pacific Railroad. From fire safety to stranger danger, the program teaches both safety lessons and problem-solving skills.
Although BJWC’s two-week summer camp reaches almost 300 local children each summer, there is a need in the community for an additional mobile program. “Safety Town Around Town” is a new, portable Safety Town program that will be piloted at Sunny Hill Elementary School in the summer of 2018. Safety Town co-chairs Neena Masterson and Jessica Spentzos want to ensure that every young child in the Barrington 220 community has the opportunity to participate in this vital program.
This new Safety Town initiative will be the primary focus of the reverse auction at the fall fashion show.
When it came time to choose a theme for this year’s event, the Kate Spade-inspired “Cue the Confetti”—with black and white strips and accents of gold—seemed a perfect fit, both from fashion and a philanthropic perspective.
The luncheon and runway fashion show will take Kate Spade’s Fall 2017 looks on the runway place on November 11 beginning at 10 a.m. at Stonegate Conference and Banquet Centre in Hoffman Estates.
Curated by Neiman Marcus Northbrook, and partnering with CUSP, this year’s fashion focus will be on trendy, fashionable, and affordable.
“We are very excited to partner with Neiman Marcus from Northbrook again on the runway this year,” says Young. “Priscilla and I really wanted to focus on bringing high-fashion, yet versatile, pieces to our audience. We will be featuring lots of clothes that you can find at Cusp (owned by Neiman’s). Instead of ball gowns we will be ending the show this year with fun holiday-ready cocktail dresses.”
Known for its fashion-forward sensibility, CUSP is showing fall trends such as modern suiting, which is “less buttoned-up and more avante-guard,” velvet for morning, noon, and night, and leather with a moto twist. The store features designers such as Theory, Alexa Chung, Etienne Marcel, Saloni, and Brockenbow.
“And, we are bringing back the popular Daddy Daughter runway portion of the show, as well as encouraging more local businesses to participate in the shopping boutique,” adds Morrison.
Local favorites Luxe Warehouse and Heads Up Boutique will be returning; new to the boutique this year will be Glam and Glitz.
Among the 80-plus silent auction items will be a pair of diamond stud earrings valued at $7,000 donated by M.J. Miller as well as a an all-inclusive trip (including airfare) to Riviera Maya, which was donated by Apple Vacations. Attendees will be able to bid electronically preceding the event and up until the fashion show begins.
And, guests will be thrilled to see the return of the Taco Truck party, which is part of the live auction.
The highly-anticipated Impact Auction will feature a diamond necklace, with two rows of halo diamonds, from Barrington’s
own Long & Co. The local jeweler has generously donated the impact piece for many years.
“The fashion show is an essential contributor to the philanthropic efforts of the Barrington Junior Women’s Club,” say Annmarie Dymon, BJWC president. “Last year, we granted more than $100,000 to local organizations and awarded more than $20,000 in scholarships to Barrington High School students.”
Last year’s fashion show event sold out completely, so get your sparkle on and buy your tickets now.
Barrington Junior Women’s Club’s Kate Spade-inspired “Cue the Confetti” fashion show will take place at 10 a.m. on Saturday, November 11, at the Stonegate Conference and Banquet Centre in Hoffman Estates. For more information, visit bjwc.org or email [email protected]