NewburyportNews.com, Newburyport, MA

Yankee Homecoming

Festival fashions on parade

Rosemary Ford
Published: August 2, 2007

Pistachio and tomato — it may not sound like an appetizing combination, but the two colors may make frequent appearances on local streets this fall if the annual Yankee Homecoming Fashion Show is any indication of the latest trends.

Last night, more than 150 people packed the Elks Lodge Hall on Low Street for the show, themed “Beautiful Clothes for Beautiful People.” Participants decorated their own tables, with themes like cupcakes, pooches, Elvis in Hawaii and nautical motifs.

“It’s a girls night out,” explained Carol Wallace of Newburyport as she readied to watch the parade of fashions.

“Every year, we mark it on our calendars,” said Donna Subak of Newburyport, who has attended the show for the last 18 years.

Local stores that contributed items include Mary Jane, John Farley Clothiers, Pure Bliss, The Studio, Bennett & Co., Yankee Runner, Garden of Delights, Lively Kids, Lively Girls, Talbots and The Ruby Slipper.

“Newburyport shops are not visited enough,” said Donna Kelly, who organized the event. “(This is) to show: ‘Hey, it’s in your hometown.’”

Lively Kids kicked off the catwalk, as models strutted with funky fashions geared toward toddlers to tweens. Several adorable children worked the stage decked in golf caps, Argyle and bright graphic T-shirts.

The show moved onto tweens with Lively Girls models donning mod outfits with bright geometric patterns. Hits included an empire-waisted, black lace dress and an animal print tunic paired with matching leggings.

From there, the topic changed to sportswear, with Yankee Runner’s ultra comfortable T-shirts and running shorts in a rainbow of colors. Bennett & Co. offered a lace corset that can be worn as outerwear, along with a lavender nightgown.

Garden of Delights brought the audience a figure-skimming pistachio suit with a flowing skirt and swing jacket. Bold black square jewelry accessorized the outfit. Another model from the store sported a two-piece black sheath under a knee-length tomato sweater and matching hobo bag.

“The clothes have been great,” said Jane Kelley of Newburyport, halfway through the event. “This is much better than the other one I went to.”

The Studio showed striped summer wool and tangerine halter dresses while Talbots offered several business casual outfits, including a paprika skirt embroidered with white flowers and fuchsia sequins paired with a fuchsia top, along with a two-piece men’s wear-inspired pinstriped suit.

Pure Bliss ended the show with a bride in a strapless dress, embroidered in gold, surrounded by a wedding party in fuchsia, tomato and teal.

“I wanted to go to Paris,” joked Janet Frazier of Newbury. “This is the next best thing.”

While fashion, quite literally, took center stage, Elvis impersonator Ricky Andrade of Amesbury wowed the crowd during a 45-minute intermission with The King’s hits, like “Heartbreak Hotel” and “All Shook Up.”

“He is adorable,” agreed Pat Frey of Plum Island. “But my grandkids are all older than he is. But you are never too old to appreciate youth and beauty. You know, I married a man who looked like Elvis.”





The models

Anna Baldwin of San Francisco, Calif.

Jordan Baldwin of San Francisco, Calif.

Sarah Baldwin of San Francisco, Calif.

Eva Berton of Andover, N.H.

Frank Cousins of Newburyport

Deborah Danig of Newburyport

Ella Dorval Hall of Newbury

Ellen Enright of Hamilton

Julia Enright of Hamilton

Ken Fillebrown of Bradford

Rachel Harris of Newburyport

Taylor Howard of Newburyport

Kelsey Killeen of West Newbury

Hannah Koch of Newburyport

Maggie LeMaitre of West Newbury

Devin Lively of Atkinson, N.H.

Kalla Lively of Atkinson, N.H.

Hannah Manclark of Amesbury

Christy Manclark of Amesbury

Alice McGonigle of Byfield

John Moak of Newburyport

Rebecca Moulton of Newbury

Brian Murray of West Newbury

Luke O’Brien of Newburyport

Ke’ala Ott of West Newbury

Michael Ott of West Newbury

Rebecca Restrepo-Steimel of Newburyport

Jenifer Roy of Merrimac

Chiara Sabatini of Rowley

Laura Stevens of Merrimac

Brynn Story of Merrimac

Molly Welsh of Newburyport

Photos