On Saturday, April 1st, 300 members, friends, and supporters of the Junior League of Cincinnati (JLC) gathered at the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center to celebrate the arrival of Spring in style with Silhouette: the Junior League of Cincinnati’s Spring Fashion Show Fundraiser. Spring Fundraiser committee chair Erin Lee and vice chair Christina Yardley collaborated with the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging (DEI&B) committee to showcase the importance of supporting local businesses that are at the center of social justice education. The fashion show featured members wearing clothes from businesses from a variety of backgrounds that reflect Cincinnati’s diverse community.

The JLC’s signature Spring Fundraiser raised $50,000 to support its mission to advance women’s leadership for meaningful community impact through volunteer action, collaboration, and training; additionally, the fundraiser contributes to the impact of their current program partner, Family Nurturing Center. In 103 years of service to the Greater Cincinnati community, the JLC has incubated or impacted more than 120 programs and projects, including numerous self-sustaining nonprofits that continue to grow and thrive today. Kate Fortlage, President of the JLC, explains that “The fashion show has been a long standing tradition for the JLC to support fundraising and membership and community engagement. To kick off this year’s festivities, we invited Cynthia Amnéus from Cincinnati Art Museum to present at our March member meeting to share how fashion has been a source of women’s empowerment. Not only is fashion inspiring and empowering, we love this event because it gives us an opportunity to highlight the amazing talent and local businesses we have in Cincinnati.” Cynthia Amnéus is Chief Curator and Curator of Fashion Arts and Textiles for the Cincinnati Art Museum with more than twenty years of experience in her field. It was a pleasure having her as a guest speaker.

During the fashion show event, patrons enjoyed a champagne toast courtesy of Trilogy Fitness Systems, delicious light passed appetizers and desserts by Elegant Fare, and an open bar with select wines and beer before enjoying an enchanted runway show emceed by WLWT’s Meredith Stutz with music courtesy of DJ BlacknMyles.  Silhouette featured the latest looks for women, men, and children from Cincinnati’s finest boutiques including Alligator Purse, Annabelle Arthur, Anti Creative, Capsule, Castle House, Elizabeth DeWitt Consignment, Honey on Miami, Hutch Baby, Idelwild, Knickers of Hyde Park, Leeli+Lou, Maximilian Furs, Meas Active, Originalitees, Portaluca Boutique, Sloane, and Vineyard Vines.

Guests arrived early and lingered after the show to peruse the highly coveted silent auction items, and shop a curated pop up boutique with the latest looks and trends from Brideface, Classic Prep Monograms, Co-Op on Camargo, Holzapel + Lied Plastic Surgery Center, House of Colour Loveland, Hutch Baby, Jackie O’s Needlepoint, Kendra Scott, Maximilian Furs, Meas Active, National Blood Clot Alliance, Nusa Boutique, Originalitees, Portaluca Boutique, Prime Time Party & Event Rental, SMP Designs, Sohza Sister, Ti Marie Candle Co and Tillage Clothing. Guests also had an opportunity to purchase raffle tickets for a chance to win fabulous prizes including a Ferragamo Handbag donated by Hard Rock Casino, a Diamond Bracelet donated by Richter & Phillips, and a Bengals Game Ball Autographed by Tyler Boyd donated by the Cincinnati Bengals.

The JLC would like to extend gratitude to all the individuals and organizations whose generous partnerships made this event possible, particularly the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center for hosting; Roto-Rooter, Brideface, Manley Burke, LHH (formerly Parker + Lynch Legal), Trilogy Fitness Systems, Luxe Sunless, and Madison Wealth Management for sponsoring the event; Megan Stacey Group for sponsoring the VIP swag bags; DJ BlackNMyles for providing musical entertainment; Laura Sioux Photography for capturing the evening and CG Marketing & Communications for providing printed materials.

A very special thank you to the wonderful Junior League of Cincinnati Staff, Ashley Rouster and Maggie Walriven, the fashionable models, many volunteers and the JLC Garden Club for donating the beautiful flowers. 

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The Junior League of Cincinnati is a Member of The Association of Junior Leagues International, an organization of women whose shared mission is to advance women’s leadership for meaningful community impact through volunteer action, collaboration, and training. Established in 1920, the Junior League of Cincinnati plays an integral part in the communities of Greater Cincinnati. By empowering women and providing valuable leadership training, we are giving local women the tools to get involved, put their talents to work, and positively impact the communities of the Greater Cincinnati region. Applications for membership are open now through June 1, 2023.

For further information on the Junior League of Cincinnati, please visit:  www.jlcincinnati.org.