- Title: New York seniors strut down the catwalk at annual fashion show
- Date: 31st March 2017
- Summary: ****WARNING CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** SIGN READING "NO SEWING CLASSES FRIDAY DUE TO FASHION SHOW" MAKE UP ROOM (SOUNDBITE) (English) REGGY SONSINO, MODEL, SAYING: "Oh they put on make-up. I've got so much make-up, I may not sleep tonight, so it doesn't come off. And really nice to be fussed upon. I'm looking forward. I've never done this before and it's just such a funny thing to do and I'm grateful to be here." (SOUNDBITE) (English) RACHEL ODDMAN, MODEL, SAYING: "We help one another. We support one another, and I'm just really overwhelmed. I have my little secrets. I wouldn't mind being on stage." MAKE UP SET AND WOMAN VARIOUS OF MAKE UP BEING APPLIED (SOUNDBITE) (English) MARIA ORTIZ, MODEL, SAYING: "Now I have the opportunity. Oh my God! Okay, you're good. To have it at my age, to have the opportunity.. Not everybody at this age can have this opportunity. I like it." (SOUNDBITE) (English) BILL DIONNE, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF CARTER BURDEN CENTER FOR THE AGING AND FASHION SHOW EMCEE, SAYING: "This is a day that celebrates beauty at every age. We're surrounded by amazing, gorgeous artists." MODELS BACKSTAGE (SOUNDBITE) (English) BILL DIONNE, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF CARTER BURDEN CENTER FOR THE AGING AND FASHION SHOW EMCEE, SAYING: "All of the different cultures represented and many have made their own dress right here in our own sewing lab and they're their creations and they're here to strut their stuff."
- Embargoed: 14th April 2017 23:46
- Keywords: fashion show seniors Carter Burden New York East Harlem fashion
- Location: NEW YORK, NEW YORK, UNITED STATES
- City: NEW YORK, NEW YORK, UNITED STATES
- Country: USA
- Topics: Living/Lifestyle,Society/Social Issues
- Reuters ID: LVA0026AALOBD
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: You are never too old to make your first turn down the fashion runway. A group of seniors from the Carter Burden/Leonard Covello Senior center in New York City's East Harlem neighborhood turned heads at the center's fourth annual fashion show on Friday (March 31).
Twenty-five women and men walked the runway's red carpet. Most of the models were aged 60 or older, but a few workers at the center walked the red carpet too.
Rachel Oddman, 65, started the show off with a fuchsia sequined dress that she designed. Reggy Sonsino, 60, also walked the red-carpeted runway in a soft pink silk dress she sewed together during one of the many sewing classes offered at the senior center.
The fashion show also boasted the rich diversity of New York City with traditional Philippine, Guyanese, Chinese and Mexican ensembles among the fashions on display.
Before the show, all of the models were treated to the full fashion show experience. Volunteers from Macy's department store offered backstage makeovers with hair and Elizabeth Arden make-up.
"I've got so much make-up, I may not sleep tonight, so it doesn't come off. And really nice to be fussed upon. I'm looking forward. I've never done this before and it's just such a funny thing to do and I'm grateful to be here," Sonsino said before the show.
"We help one another. We support one another, and I'm just really overwhelmed," added Oddman.
Bill Dionne, the executive director of the Carter Burden Center for the Aging and the emcee of the fashion show, said "This is a day the celebrates beauty at every age. We're surrounded by amazing, gorgeous artists."
The senior fashion designers, models and dancers all put their best foot forward during the show.
For the finale and to the tune of Cyndi Lauper's 'Girls Just Want to have Fun', Felicita Morales strode down the runway in a full length, white wedding dress that she designed and handmade. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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