River Strand models raise funds for Food Bank of Manatee County

Women walked the runway March 18 at River Strand of Bradenton's annual Stylin' at the Strand fashion show.

By Jay Heater
| 8:15 p.m. March 18, 2023

East County
Neighbors

Before the eight River Strand models were headed out to the runway during the Stylin' at the Strand event Saturday at the River Strand Country Club, they had to be checked out first.

They were modeling clothes by the Evelyn and Arthur women's clothing store of Sarasota.

Doing the checking was Judy Horn, an employee at Evelyn and Arthur for the past nine years.

So what was on the checklist?

"You have to make sure their tags aren't hanging out," Horn said with a laugh about the new clothes they were showing.

Actually, Horn knows that the River Strand women who agreed to walk the runway for the event are volunteers who have done little to no modeling.

They can be nervous.

So Horn makes sure that the bottom of their pants are straight and even, their accessories are hanging just right and their handbags have the fronts pointed at the crowd.

It's all accomplished in a light-hearted manner.

"We try to keep it upbeat and fun," Horn said.

A sold-out crowd of 130 women were in the audience to raise funds for the Food Bank of Manatee County. It was the fourth annual event put on by River Strand residents and organized by Eloise Eckler and her committee. However, the event wasn't held two years during the COVID-19 pandemic.

River Strand's Lisa Larson, Kathy Justinak, Mary Griffith, Nedra Clark, Valerie Thurston, Sandy Franks, Adrian Figliotti, and Marla Coniglio lit up the runway during Stylin' at the Strand.

Eloise Eckler, Lil Vivona and Christine Levine put together the event to benefit the Food Bank of Manatee County.

River Strand's Valerie Thurston says she was comfortable being a model for the event because she would be seeing all her friends.

River Strand's Kathy Justinak says the experience as a runway model helped her learn about different fashion she wouldn't have previously considered.

River Strand's Mary Griffith says some of the colors she is wearing as a model have taken her out of her comfort zone.

Besides walking the runway as a model, Nedra Clark says she looks forward to doing some shopping because the Evelyn and Arthur clothes would be available after the show.

River Strand's Sandy Franks makes her way though the crowd at River Strand Country Club.

The models, including Valerie Thurston (right), worked their way through the sold-out crowd of 130.

River Strand's Adrian Figliotti says she had a hard time finding the right outfit because she is so tiny, but "We finally put it together."

River Strand's Marla Coniglio says she loves the camaraderie of the Stylin' at the Strand event.

River Strand's Lisa Larson enjoys her trip down the runway at Stylin' at the Strand.

Sandy Franks says she likes clothes and seeing everyone's reaction when they see them.

River Strand's Valerie Thurston says she once did some modeling and added that she loves it because "I'm a clothes horse."

River Strand's Nedra Clark wears a rather wild outfit and shows some attitude while doing it.

Mary Griffith says as a model she would "smile, don't trip, and hold my stomach in." She added, "This is all out of my comfort zone."

Kathy Justinak says she modeled in high school "A long time ago." She says she is happy to represent River Strand and the event has "pushed me out of my comfort zone."

River Strand's Lisa Larson says she loves the clothes, the fashion, the design and the style.

The Evelyn and Arthur of Sarasota fashions are all organized for the models to wear at the River Strand Country Club.

Aliki Gable of Evelyn and Arthur of Sarasota gives the models some last-minute instructions.

Stylin' at the Strand event director Eloise Eckler and Aliki Gable of Evelyn and Arthur of Sarasota are ready to get the fashion show on the road.

author

Jay Heater

Jay Heater is the managing editor of the East County Observer. Overall, he has been in the business more than 41 years, 26 spent at the Contra Costa Times in the San Francisco Bay area as a sportswriter covering college football and basketball, boxing and horse racing.