- May 2, 2018
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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.
Photo by Jay HeaterEloise Eckler, Lil Vivona and Christine Levine put together the event to benefit the Food Bank of Manatee County.
Photo by Jay HeaterRiver Strand's Valerie Thurston says she was comfortable being a model for the event because she would be seeing all her friends.
Photo by Jay HeaterRiver Strand's Kathy Justinak says the experience as a runway model helped her learn about different fashion she wouldn't have previously considered.
Photo by Jay HeaterRiver Strand's Mary Griffith says some of the colors she is wearing as a model have taken her out of her comfort zone.
Photo by Jay HeaterBesides 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.
Photo by Jay HeaterRiver Strand's Sandy Franks makes her way though the crowd at River Strand Country Club.
Photo by Jay HeaterThe models, including Valerie Thurston (right), worked their way through the sold-out crowd of 130.
Photo by Jay HeaterRiver 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."
Photo by Jay HeaterRiver Strand's Marla Coniglio says she loves the camaraderie of the Stylin' at the Strand event.
Photo by Jay HeaterRiver Strand's Lisa Larson enjoys her trip down the runway at Stylin' at the Strand.
Photo by Jay HeaterSandy Franks says she likes clothes and seeing everyone's reaction when they see them.
Photo by Jay HeaterRiver Strand's Valerie Thurston says she once did some modeling and added that she loves it because "I'm a clothes horse."
Photo by Jay HeaterRiver Strand's Nedra Clark wears a rather wild outfit and shows some attitude while doing it.
Photo by Jay HeaterMary 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."
Photo by Jay HeaterKathy 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."
Photo by Jay HeaterRiver Strand's Lisa Larson says she loves the clothes, the fashion, the design and the style.
Photo by Jay HeaterThe Evelyn and Arthur of Sarasota fashions are all organized for the models to wear at the River Strand Country Club.
Photo by Jay HeaterAliki Gable of Evelyn and Arthur of Sarasota gives the models some last-minute instructions.
Photo by Jay HeaterStylin' 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.
Photo by Jay HeaterBefore 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.
