Clearlake >> In 1998, Virginia Sibbitt joined the Park Study Club (PSC). Even then, the annual “Fall Fashion Fling” was a well-established tradition. Every year, the ladies of PSC host a fashion event and luncheon, where they send five of their members down a runway for a fun and stylish show. This year’s event hits the catwalk this Saturday at 1 p.m. at the PSC Clubhouse in Clearlake.
Though PSC has unofficially been together since 1942, they’ve been incorporated since ‘47 and in 1949 the club joined the California Federation of Women’s Clubs. It began as a reading group, where women would get together to discuss their books, but it quickly evolved. PSC organized a campaign for a Lake County library. After placing the initiative on a ballot, a library in Clearlake became a reality in 1967.
Once that venture was complete, PSC began to look at other ways to help the community. They decided to raise funds for scholarships for the youth. Money raised at the “Fall Fashion Fling” will go toward scholarships for Lower Lake High School and Carle High School as well as the Hugh O’Brien Foundation, a leadership program.
While PSC puts up the flags in Clearlake’s Austin Park and they just gave $4,000 to benefit Valley Fire victims, the club places much of their focus on youth. Last year they gave out four scholarships and this time around they’ll hand out as many as their funds allow them to.
“All of our money goes back to the community,” Sibbitt said. “We’re just a little club with 40 people and we work our buns off … We’re involved in a lot of things, whatever we can be involved in as long as our money holds out.”
The women in Saturday’s fashion show are outfitted courtesy of Lisa’s Sizes 3 to 60 Women’s Apparel in Clearlake. For the last ten years, owner Lisa McDonald has provided the outfits, complete with accessories, for the event. Across the county, whenever an organization wants to put on a fashion show they usually turn to McDonald. She provides clothing for five to seven events a year.
The luncheon will also see a raffle while women change their outfits. Every year, the event fills up.
“Women around here like fashion and they enjoy coming to a fashion show,” Sibbitt said. “This is a fun time with the women, they always seem to enjoy it and we usually have a pretty good showing.”
Each model picks out their own outfits. They visit McDonald’s store ahead of time and try on different clothing and accessories until they find something they’re comfortable in. The models are all sizes and ages and they walk down the runway in three or four different outfits. “Usually I have them go through and pick out a few things that they like,” McDonald explained. “I don’t ever have a model in anything they’re not comfortable in.”
Though McDonald likes to help PSC raise some funds, participating in the fashion show does giver her an advertising boost.
“The ladies have a good time and they flock in here after the show,” she said.
Though music fundraisers are the most popular avenue of approaching doners, a fashion show is always an enjoyable change of pace.
“There’s not a heck of a lot to do in Lake County,” McDonald said. “It’s a good opportunity for ladies to get together and have a good time and enjoy some quality clothing in Lake County.”
Fashion shows are also a way to see what stores in the county have to offer.
“I think people like to see what’s going on as far as in the clothing industry, to see how something’s going to look on someone else and see what’s available,” McDonald said.
The “Fall Fashion Fling” is this Saturday at 1 p.m. at the PSC clubhouse. It’s located at 13687 Santa Clara Ave in Clearlake. A $20 donation is requested and tickets are available at the door. For group reservations, call 995-9321.
Jennifer Gruenke can be reached at 900-2019.
