STORY AND PHOTOS BY KAREN BOSSICK
Betsy Mizell has set foot on every continent in search of a nice warm beach.
Christy Giles has played Santa Claus for the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation
Bev Robinson has three grandchildren and nine great grandchildren and has traveled to more than a hundred counties.
And Nora Roebuck, who hails from Lima, Peru, loves retail therapy so much that she gives her husband a wish list to get out of the dog house.
These are among 11 women who came together Thursday night to change in and out of a dozen different outfits and strut down the runway, stepping out of their comfort zone to show a little sass on behalf of The Senior Connection.
“It was super fun,” said Zumba teacher Pricscilla “I’m Buying Every Outfit I Modeled!” Sheerin.
“It was super fun,” added Mizell, who works for the Idaho Conservation League. “Happy. Made me feel good. They just said, ‘Go out, have fun, strut a little, talk to people, let them touch your clothes.’ ”
A sell-out crowd of 125 women and a few good men turned out for the third annual Fashion and Wine, treating themselves to a buffet of carved turkey and ham, mushrooms, asparagus, chocolate fondue and more as they watched the parade of fashions put together by The Wildflower.
“It’s all about the senior center—and supporting community,” said Wendy Jaquet.
Senior Connection Executive Director Teresa Beahen Lipman kicked it off, recounting how the year before she had kicked off the event strolling in behind a walker, wearing a bathrobe, her hair in curlers.
This time she pedaled in on a tricycle filled with poinsettias--a visual representation of the new bike program the Senior Connection started this summer.
“While you were working, The Senior Connection delivered a hundred-plus meals. And there are some who are not here tonight because we provide 24/7 home care,” she told the crowd.
The women modeled an array of fashions from clean rise jeans to work-to-wine items like cashmere stretch scarves and Spanx layers. They paraded out the Luxe collection of lounge wear, Joseph Ribkoff travel wear, a metallic plated blouse for evening wear, a Sanctuary red leopard print jumpsuit and a knit sweater cardigan by Wooden Ships.
They topped each outfit off with necklaces Ketchum resident Carlyn Ring had made out of beautiful and unusual beads from around the world on behalf of Tostan, which advocates for human rights in West Africa.
“I loved it,” echoed Zions Bank Vice-President Jeffra Syms. “And it offers a good education about The Senior Connection.”