Boutique Owner to Host Charity Fashion Show

A local boutique owner is hitting the runway in the name of charity, and is inviting the community to join in the fun. 

Patricia Berry, owner of Stafford clothing and accessory store Everything Woman And Then Some, is holding a fashion show luncheon at 11:30 a.m. Monday, Feb. 13 at the Stafford Holiday Inn on Route 72. Besides offering a sneak peek at her shop's newest items, the event will let attendees shop from among a number of vendors and enjoy a tasty lunch while supporting Lacey Township's Popcorn Park Zoo.

Berry and her granddaughter Jessica DeMaria opened the store in the Manahawkin Mart shopping center on Bay Avenue in Stafford just over a year ago. Berry said they were looking for a way to get the word out about their store and drum up support for a good local cause when they hit on the idea of a fashion show.

"We just started carrying clothing," said Berry, who said she recently spent several days at a buying convention picking out pieces that are fashion-forward and appealing to a wide range of women. With friends and family of all ages participating as models, she said, the event will really showcase what her boutique has to offer. 

Berry is also looking for vendors interested in offering handmade goods, retail items and specialty foods. Several are already on board, she said, including Donegal Importers, an Irish goods store with a retail outlet in Manahawkin.

Lunch will also be served, and guests can enjoy a cash bar.

Turning the day into a fundraiser seemed like the right thing to do, she said, and Popcorn Park Zoo has always had a special place in her family members' hearts.

Tickets are $30 and are available at the boutique, 657 East Bay Ave., Manahawkin. Call the store at 609-242-5796 for more details. The event is scheduled to coincide with Chocolate Week, an annual series of promotional events organized by the Southern Ocean County Chamber of Commerce in early February. To learn more about the week's fun and delicious events, visit the SOCCC's website.