DANVERS — Jeanne Hennessey is taking her boutique's annual fashion show to the North Shore Music Theatre in Beverly, where it will honor women in uniform and support the efforts of Danvers-based Operation Troop Support and USO New England.
The venue will allow the show's organizers to sell up to 1,000 tickets, said Hennessey, owner of Lorraine Roy Designer Collections in Danvers Square, which is presenting the show.
For the past two years, the event was held at the Danversport Yacht Club, and it sold out with about 625 attendees.
"Every time we do one of these events, they just keep getting bigger, better, more exciting" Smith said.
This year's fundraiser pays tribute to women in uniform, with fashions inspired by the colors of Old Glory. Professional models will show off the fashions, but about 200 women serving in the military plan to attend, said store manager Amanda Smith.
The idea to hold a patriotic runway show was inspired by the 10th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks, which brought home for Hennessey the reasons why troops are serving overseas.
"We wanted to remind (those attending) to think about (the troops) and their families," Hennessey said.
Christine Moody, who co-founded Operation Troop Support with her husband, Dick, will be honored as a volunteer for her work helping troops overseas and supporting families at home. The local, nonprofit group, founded in 2003, sends care packages to military hospitals and to troops serving overseas, in addition to a variety of family support services at home. The Moodys' son, daughter and son-in-law have all served in Iraq.
Those coming to the event are being asked to donate at least three new pairs of socks, which will be sent to the troops. For every three pairs of socks donated, attendees will get a raffle ticket and be eligible to win one of 20 raffle items.
To make things more personal, American Greetings has donated 1,000 cards, which will be inserted into the programs, so audience members can write messages to the troops. Operation Troop Support will send the cards overseas.
Rosana Masse, 90, of Danvers will be the evening's special military honoree. She was an Army nurse in North Africa and Italy during World War II, serving for a time under Gen. George S. Patton. She later worked as a nurse at Salem Hospital for 18 years.
"I'm sure it will be beautiful," she said of the upcoming fashion show. "The women should be honored; they did a beautiful job over there, especially the nurses."
During the fashion show, the winner of the store's Chic Mom Makeover contest, Gayla Bartlett of Danvers, will make an appearance. Bartlett was selected as the winner after 2,000 votes were cast online. Many favored her essay about why the mother of an 8-year-old daughter needed a makeover. She won $1,000 worth of designer clothes at Lorraine Roy, and her new look will revealed at the fashion show.
Hennessey has owned the store, which specializes in dresses for special occasions, for four years. Before she bought the shop in 2007, she worked there for two years, then purchased it from the son and daughter-in-law of original owner, Lorraine Roy.
"She still comes in the store," Hennessey said of Roy. "She is very much a part of this."
Staff writer Ethan Forman can be reached at 978-338-2673, by email at eforman@salemnews.com or on Twitter @DanverSalemNews.
If you go
What: "Runway USA — Celebrating Women in Uniform," a fashion show, boutique shopping, raffle and food tasting by North Shore restaurants
To benefit: Operation Troop Support and USO New England
When: Monday, Nov. 7, 6 p.m.
Where: North Shore Music Theatre, 62 Dunham Road, Beverly
Tickets: $50 general admission; VIP tickets, $100, include dessert reception by Cakes for Occasions at 9 p.m. To purchase, visit www.NSMT.org
More information: www.lorraineroy.com
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