How to become a Model …

… it was easier than I thought. No starving myself into a size 6 (HaHaHa – I wasn’t that even when I was 6!) ….  it was as easy as putting up my hand

The ladies of our WI were organising a fund-raising event in aid of the local Memory Café – more of which later. One of our members, with contacts within Debenhams, managed to get their agreement to come out to our village hall and bring a range of fashions to show. All they needed from us was the set up, the paying audience and at least half a dozen models. At this point, along with a few other members, I put my hand up – and that was it – committed.

Debenhams Fashion Show St. Dominick
Fashion show ‘special occasion wear’ finale (click to enlarge photo)

A number of weeks later and armed only with the knowledge of our dress-size (and that can be pretty vague can’t it?) and our height, the ladies from Debenhams arrived with over £5000 worth of clothes. They brought with them two bare-Minerals make-up artists who ‘did’ all our faces. (It was fun to hear later from two people that know me well, that they had a little argument as to whether I was actual me – or not, when I did my first promenade – no, I do not usually wear any make-up – can you pick me out?)  We were each given a set of clothes to model, a day-wear set, a Autumn / Winter Coat and a glamorous evening or special occasion outfit.

A swift ‘walk through’ with guidance on where to walk, where to stop and where to turn while the music blared out – and the audience were let in – and we were on! The audience giving each turn a lovely round of applause.  Two-thirds way through the 33 outfits the make up girls gave a twenty minute demonstration, giving us time to change into the glamorous gear.

It was a fun event which couldn’t have been done without the dedication of the Debenhams team, especially the personal shoppers who had made  all the selections which, amazingly since they had so little details to work with, not only fitted but on the whole suited the models! So huge thanks went to them.

The Debenhams team had to rush off at the end to get the goods back to the store and checked in, but the audience and the models (now back in civvies) enjoyed tea and choccy biscuits. What a fun way to raise over £400 for the Memory Café….

Memory Café? What is that?  .. it is a ‘club’ set up for people with memory difficulties and their carers, and indeed anyone of that generation who wishes to spend a bit of time reminiscing. The organisers bring memory stimulating games / quizzes / music / items etc and share lots of chat with the guests while having tea, coffee and cake, on every other Saturday afternoon. As someone who has family that attend I can vouch that it is a very worthwhile organisation that gives joy to our older citizens and values their memories. It also supports the carers, often older people themselves, of those that are struggling due to memory problems whether just getting absent minded or whether diagnosed with Alzheimer’s or vascular dementia.

So have you ever found yourself doing something unexpected by simply volunteering?

What was the strangest or best thing you ended up doing?

 Do share – you know I love to hear from you

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