Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/586182
PATRONS | Fall 2015 8 On a cool, wet Tuesday morning following the long anksgiving weekend, hundreds of ladies (and a few men) are hurriedly scurrying to close their umbrellas and squeeze inside the entrance to a large, white tent. ey've ventured out in their sharpest red and green attire to make their own holiday fashion statements at what has become a 20-year tradition that kicks off the South Bay holiday season in style—the Torrance Memorial Holiday Festival Fashion Show. A ticket to the Fashion Show gives you a passport to an elegant, all-day event that begins with boutique shopping, moves on to a delicious lunch, dazzles guests with a top-notch fashion show and culminates with more boutique shopping complete with unique fashions, jewelry, purses and accessories. All proceeds benefit the Torrance Memorial Foundation. is year's show on December 1 will feature clothing from designer Mi Jong Lee of the women's luxury line Emmelle. Her creations consist of well-made, sophisticated designs constructed in New York City. e Fashion Show is part of the annual Holiday Festival. It's a joint effort between the Las Amigas volunteer organization at Torrance Memorial, which plans and operates the festival; the Luminaries, another volunteer group that sets up the shopping boutiques; the Torrance Memorial Foundation; fashion show co-chairs; and countless other volunteers and donors. "We are grateful to have an impressive cadre of volunteers that contribute their time and talents to the Fashion Show, Gala and Holiday Festival," says Judith Gassner, senior director of development and principal gifts with the Torrance Memorial Foundation. e show began in 1995 with 150 guests. It has grown into a much-anticipated community event, with tickets selling out in advance and an annual guest list topping 625. e event is the result of the contributions of many people and moving parts. One of these is fashion show choreographer/producer, Carin Holmenas. Holmenas was introduced to Gassner 10 years ago by the owner of the Jonathan Boutique of Redondo Beach, who provided clothing for the show for several years. Gassner recruited the services of Holmenas to provide clothing. With that came her skills for the production and choreography of the show. Holmenas is a former model who has been in the fashion show production business for charity events for 20 years. "I always have the audience in mind when I plan a fashion show and want everyone to be entertained. Hopefully, they will want to wear the clothes they see," Holmenas says. "I try to present collections the audience can relate to, worn by models that suit each piece—all while staying true to the designer's vision." e Fashion Show captures the talent not only of Holmenas and the featured designers but also the professional models. Typically 10 females and four males work the runway for each Torrance Memorial show. Holmenas works with the same No Room for Humbug at the Holiday Festival Fashion Show WRITTEN BY CAROLE JAKUCS PROGRESS NOTES 1