Ooh La La ‘Take Me to Paris!’

For hundreds of Marco Island women, it was off to the City of Lights last week.  

The San Marco Council of Catholic Women (CCW) hosted another of their long-running series of fashion extravaganzas so that if the ladies find someone to jet them off to Gay Paree, or even if not, they will have the wardrobe for the visit.  

The parish hall at San Marco Catholic Church was transformed into a symphony of peaches and pinks under the guidance of Cookie Bergen, who headed up the décor. Taking inspiration from legendary fashionista Coco Chanel, the theme was “stylish and sophisticated.” With flowers from Marco Island Florist and a backdrop picturing the Eiffel Tower and a scene along the Seine, 15 models strolled the stage, and then throughout the dining room, modeling an array of fashions. Each model then hustled backstage for a quick change, each appearing in several different outfits.  

At Tuesday’s luncheon event, Clarice Dowdle of Coton Frais, Kathy Campagna of Beach Daisy, and Jeanne Hilt from Kay’s on the Beach took turns announcing the models and their garments, calling attention to salient points and the advantages of each. And this year, for the first time ever, the fashion show expanded to two events, with a second affair on Wednesday evening, with couture from Patchington, Island Trends, and Curated Crab. For that show, even men were on hand, while at the luncheon, it was 300 ladies and maybe three guys – Father Tim Navin, giving the invocation; Al Schettino, photographing his daughter and model Alex Schettino; and yours truly.  

The theme “Take Me to Paris” evoked Paris in the springtime, and pianist Carl Granieri played musical selections to match – “Michele,” “I Love Paris,” “Ma Cherie Amour,” and the theme from “A Man and a Woman.” Whenever an announcement needed to be made, he announced it with a few bars of the dance hall classic “Can Can.” 

Table décor featured roses and miniature Eiffel Towers, and a lunch of chef’s salad and fruit bowls provided by caterer Frisco’s was topped off with French cheesecake. The Council of Catholic Women president, Jean Gabrys, welcomed the guests for a time of “friends, food, and fashion,” plus “gifts, love and joy.” The gifts were plentiful, with door prizes, 85 gift baskets, raffle winners, and successful auction bidders being called out throughout the proceedings.  

New this year was a pop-up store at the show, the “Petite Boutique,” with items for sale from Kathein Jewelers, Rosa’s Fashions, Sharon McLaughlin’s Unique Gifts, and the Catholic Council of Women gift shop.  

The events will raise tens of thousands of dollars for the organization’s charities, said organizer and volunteer extraordinaire Allyson Richards. Although they did not have final tallies at press time, gross receipts were “around $55,000,” she reported. Richards also said that bringing males into the fold for the evening event had been a big success.  

“They were having a great time. We couldn’t hush them up,” she said.  

The show was dedicated to Kay Folsom, founding member of the CCW fashion show and proprietor of Kay’s on the Beach, and longtime show organizer Sue Holewinski, both of whom passed this year, “but whose legacy continues as demonstrated today,” said Richards. She gave special mention to Carol Ann Anzalone, Joyce Imbrogno, Angela Segler, Suzie Walsh, Janet George, Alisha Pachecoi, Terri King, “Georgia and Helen,” Mary Ellen Rucks, Alice Camarota, Teresa Perkins, Mary Ellen Rucks, and co-chair Lorraine Corva. The models for the ‘Take Me to Paris!’ Fashion Show were Lorraine Corva, Yesenia Plasencia, Terri King, Donna Kackza, Carole Ann Anzalone, Cecilia Briones, Marian Phillips, Pat Belmonte, Alex Schettino, Pat Gill, Cathy Blanchette, Kathy Richel, Mary Wheeler, Donna Wadsworth, and Jeanne Grela.