The runway at the Golden Fashion Show featured not only models — people displaying the clothes — but also role models.
Hardworking Goldenites from business owners, employees, neighbors and even the mayor took turns showing off the latest fashions from Golden-based Alyth Active and Truly BoHotique.
But the final lap was dedicated to “Coach” Stacy Fowler, who received a standing ovation, cheers and handshakes.
The bar at the Golden Fashion Show accepts cash or online donations for Stacy Fowler during the Feb. 21 event. The event was a fundraiser for Fowler, a Golden business owner and community staple, who was recently diagnosed with glioblastoma.
On Feb. 21, about 200 people packed into Morris & Mae and Connects Workspace Red Rocks for the third annual Golden Fashion Show.
Along with the fashion show itself, the event featured about 20 local vendors selling a variety of fashion, beauty, health and wellness products; a bar; and a silent auction. Organizers said they had record attendance, selling 42 more tickets this year than last year.
This year’s show was also a fundraiser for Stacy, who was diagnosed with glioblastoma in December. Organizers later confirmed the Golden Fashion Show raised almost $7,000 for her fight against cancer.
“We have such a wonderful community,” Stacy said of the event. “ … It’s a lot to take in. I appreciate all the support.”
On the catwalk
Truly owner Nadine Wilson explained how she and Alyth’s Alysha Schuring and Theresa Gardner started the show two years ago to promote Golden fashion. It also gives the vendors, all of whom are local business owners, a place to sell their wares, as they don’t have brick-and-mortar locations.
A model sports pants from Truly BoHotique on the runway during the Feb. 21 Golden Fashion Show. The 20 models showed off a variety of outfits from Truly, Alyth Active, or a mix of both.
“We wanted to showcase women-owned businesses,” she said of the Golden business community. “It’s about uplifting women in our community.”
Plus, Wilson continued, the show also raises money for good causes.
The organizers received a City of Golden grant to help offset costs, and funds from ticket sales, the silent auction and any donations collected will go toward Stacy’s fight against glioblastoma, which is an aggressive form of brain cancer.
The event spanned four hours, but the fashion show itself was in the middle. People found what spots they could, while avoiding blocking on the catwalk carpet.
The 20 models — most of whom were women, but there were some men and children as well — started at the top of the staircase, made their way down the main stretch, around the Morris & Mae bar and then into the Connects Workspace side.
The models had fun with their poses, and the crowd had even more fun cheering them on.
But it was nothing compared to when Stacy took a proverbial bow and made her way along the catwalk to close out the show.
‘It touches her heart’
Before the show kicked off, the organizers showed a special video bouquet for Stacy, with friends, colleagues and fellow Goldenites wishing her well, sharing their encouraging messages and prayers for her.
They thanked her for all her hard work for Golden, both as a community leader and as a business owner, describing how much she’s encouraged and inspired them over the years.
One friend — paraphrasing Stacy herself — said Stacy “puts the gold in Golden.”
Stacy Fowler blows a kiss to her friends and supporters in attendance at the Feb. 21 Golden Fashion Show. The event was a fundraiser for Fowler, a Golden business owner and community staple, who was recently diagnosed with glioblastoma
Joe Fowler, Stacy’s husband of 38 years, thanked everyone who came out to support her, describing how there were both old and new friends in the Feb. 21 crowd.
“It was a must-attend for her,” he said. “She hasn’t been feeling good, and she’s been scaling back on her activities. But she wanted to be there for the entire fashion show.
“It touches her heart,” he continued. “She has so many friends here.”
Plus, Joe added, Stacy is a fashionista herself, as she’s known all over Golden for her cowgirl hats. In fact, she had one on at the show, featuring a playing card with Doc Holliday on it.
He invited everyone who wants to support Stacy to the March 7 Hoe-Down Fundraiser & Pasta Dinner. It’ll be from 2-8 p.m. at the Golden Outpost, featuring live music, raffles and a silent auction.
As for the next Golden Fashion Show, people will have to wait until next winter, but they’re encouraged to visit the participating stores and online vendors in the meantime.
But, organizers and attendees felt the Feb. 21 event was a win-win-win for the business community, attendees and Fowler family. As Alison Stafford later commented on the Transcript’s Facebook photo gallery, the Golden Fashion Show was “the true meaning of community.”