By Shari Benyousky
Guest Columnist
WARSAW – Let me tell you something about small towns.
We don’t do things halfway. We just do them with a little more chaos and a lot more heart. I rolled up to The Vic at 5:30 on Saturday evening, well before the 7:30 red carpet, because I wanted you to see how it looks behind the scenes. What I found was Terry Sweeney in a T-shirt, Rob Parker testing a microphone, and a small army of Main Street Warsaw and Chamber of Commerce folks running around setting up Toyota sponsor signs and untangling power strips.
Terry figured they’d sold about 80 tickets, as Travis from Toyota rolled in one of the new vehicles to park next to the red carpet. Rob kept testing the mic, and if you see him out and about, wish him a happy birthday. The man spent his 56th birthday weekend announcing names on a red carpet. That’s dedication.
Controlled Chaos, Beautifully Executed
Terry called the whole operation “controlled chaos,” which is the most accurate description of any good community event I’ve ever heard. He sang the praises of the three shops that made it happen: Glam Boutique, Finley & Co. and Male Fashions. Each brought five models and a lot of heart.
Here’s the thing about these models. Most of them aren’t professionals. They’re your neighbors, your local business owners, your friends. They donate their time, learn the choreography and show off clothes from shops right here in downtown Warsaw.
What’s new this year? QR codes so you can buy a piece of clothing while it’s still on the runway. Real-time shopping.
I caught up with Steve Sands, one of the Male Fashions models. He owns Big Boss BBQ and farms an eighth-generation family farm with his brothers. When he’s not doing that, apparently, he’s modeling, which his brothers find hilarious. “They give me a lot of harassment,” he said with a chuckle.
But he adores Tim, the owner of Male Fashions, and gets his clothing there. “Tim helps me with my wardrobe. He knows what he’s doing.” So, when Tim asked him to walk the runway, Steve didn’t hesitate. “Dude, I’d be honored.”
That’s the thing about this town. People show up for each other.
Runway Boot Camp
Before the show, the models gathered inside The Vic for a practice run. Glam Boutique owner Michelle Hansen, whose models all wore matching pink sweatshirts, directed the rehearsal with Tim Hamman from Male Fashions and Jenny from Finley & Co. Michelle told the gathered models, “Here’s your landing spot,” she said, pointing to a spot on the floor. “Pause for a moment here with your shoulders back. Show off the outfits. Do they have pockets or lace or can be worn more than one way? Show it. Walk slowly and interact with the audience. Most importantly, have fun.”
They tested the music, figured out how each model would walk in each of their three outfits, and then scattered to get ready. Meanwhile, Hoosier Proper owner Matt Wallen showed off the bar, where nice wines and a complimentary glass of champagne were waiting.
The Paparazzi Have Arrived
Back outside, the paparazzi had taken their positions. Five of them: Tim “Corleone” Davis, Chuck Brindle, Todd Lucas, Lin Metzger and Melissa Jordan. Each one dressed in period paparazzi garb, complete with giant cameras and old-fashioned flash bulbs. The Community Theatre clearly had a hand in this, and it was perfect.
At 7:30, right on time, the guests started filtering down the red carpet in their fancy clothes, striking poses like they’d been doing this their whole lives. “Look over here, sweetie,” one photographer called out, flash popping.
Inside, I asked a few people why they came. Krista Dausman, assistant special education director for Warsaw Schools, didn’t miss a beat. “I like to support Warsaw downtown. And Tim at Male Fashions keeps my husband looking good.” Her husband Paul proudly showed off his Tim-approved dress shirt.
Showtime
Then the show started and the energy in that room went through the roof.
Guests sipped complimentary champagne while waiters from The Vic passed around charcuterie and canapés.
Michelle, stunning in a green gown with sequins on top, welcomed everyone and thanked the event tile sponsor, Toyota of Warsaw; along with Main Street Warsaw, the participating shops, the models and the guests.
Then the 15 models did their thing.
And oh, did they do their thing.
There were high fives. There were struts. There was a worm walk. There were smoldering looks over sunglasses. There was hair flipping and hip swaying and cheers from an audience that was absolutely here for all of it. One model stopped mid-runway to kiss her husband, who looked both surprised and delighted. That’s the kind of moment you can’t script.
Michelle closed the night with applause and a whoop into the microphone: “Small Town. Big Fashion. Let’s go.”
Afterward, she was still buzzing. “This is really such an exciting time. We want to grow this event year to year. But we couldn’t do it without Emily Kosnick, owner of Toyota of Warsaw and all of these amazing models.” Emily, as it turns out, was one of the models. She and her husband are the event sponsors.
The Bottom Line
The weekend actually kicked off Friday with a free Downtown Sip n’ Shop at several downtown businesses, complete with complimentary wine and cheese, art vendors and street musicians. Saturday’s main event was ticketed at $75 for an individual or $125 for a pair, which included both the runway show and the afterparty.
Downtown Warsaw Director Terry Sweeney cheered. “Downtown Warsaw Fashion Weekend is a great way to celebrate our local retailers while bringing people together for a fun and unique downtown experience. From Friday night’s Sip n’ Shop to Saturday’s runway show and afterparty, this weekend offers a fun way to experience downtown Warsaw, support local businesses and celebrate the fashion and creativity in our community.”
But Michelle Hansen of Glam Boutique summed it best. “The beauty of this event is what happens when we choose collaboration over competition; when small businesses come together to celebrate one another and the community we all call home. We each have different styles, different customers, different stories, and different strengths. But together, we’ve created something pretty special; a vibrant small-town shopping destination that gives people another reason to love downtown Warsaw.”
Here’s my take. You can go to a big city and sit in a sterile room with people who won’t make eye contact. Or you can come to Warsaw, watch your neighbors walk a runway in clothes from shops you can actually afford, drink champagne, eat charcuterie, and cheer like you’re at a football game.
I know which one I’m picking.
Small town. Big fashion. Let’s go.
Have an interesting story, person, or place that needs to be heard? Send Shari Benyousky of Purdue University Fort Wayne English department an email at [email protected].
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