Community Corner

Fundraiser Draws on Fashion, Music

The Westborough Woman's Club will present "Fashion-atin' Rhythm" on Saturday.

Westborough Woman's Club members will model more 30 outfits this Saturday that, with help from music, will evoke the past.

"Fashion-atin' Rhythm," the club's latest fundraiser, is at Acacia at Indian Meadows, 275 Turnpike Road.

The boutique opens at 11:30 a.m. The luncheon is at 12:30 p.m. And the fashion show is at 2:30 p.m. Tickets are $35, although reservations were due Oct. 14.

Event Chairman Alberta Milhem says that her friend Jane Kruse, and area music historian Jack Wertheimer "have coordinated the music to go with the styles of each decade, and he has made a soundtrack of tunes ranging from ragtime to rock and roll and all the music in-between.

"We are also having some live entertainment during the show by the Notables. This will give an air of authenticity to the event," Milhem says.
 
This interview was conducted by e-mail.

Westborough Patch
What inspired this year's fashion show theme?

Alberta Milhem
Actually, the idea was mine.

A few years ago, I developed the idea of having a bridal fashion show featuring gowns from the turn of the century to the present. We decided to do that because none of the retail stores were doing fashion shows anymore and we needed a fundraiser that would draw people in.

I am happy to say that we made $2,500 from that event.

One of the guests commented to me on the way out that she wondered what I would do to top that, and I actually stated thinking about it on my way home.

That was April of 2011. 

I love music and I love fashion, so I thought it would be intriguing to see if there was a connection between the two.

I started doing research and found that there really was a connection, that what was happening historically impacted music and in turn fashion. I was taking a class from Jack Wertheimer, who is a well-known music historian in the Worcester area, and he was also intrigued by the idea. And voila, the idea began to germinate when he agreed to help us.  

I am incredibly fortunate to have a friend, Jane Kruse, who is well known in Westborough for her collection of vintage clothing and her incredible skill as an artist. So I approached her again, because she had done such a wonderful job with the bridal show and she eagerly agreed to provide the clothing, as well as the history behind the fashions of the various eras.

Westborough Patch
How much does the woman's club hope to raise from the show?

Alberta Milhem

The Woman's’ Club hopes to raise at least as much as the last show, but ticket sales haven’t been going as well as we would have liked; besides regretting the lower profit gains, I am sorry that people will be missing something very unique and entertaining. Many people have worked very hard to get this off and running, so we hope that more people will attend.

Westborough Patch
What are you looking forward to the most about the show?

Alberta Milhem

I am looking forward to seeing what clothing Jane has chosen and listening to the soundtrack of our lives.

As a club, I think we are all hoping to raise enough money to continue all the community services that the Westborough Woman’s Club has done for over 80 years.









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