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Fashion show preview sparkles at Tiffany
Stephanie Wilson (right) of Winnetka thanks Joseph Lombardo, director of Tiffany & Co. at Northbrook Court, for supporting Northwestern University Settlement House. | Karie Angell Luc~For Sun-Times Media
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Updated: May 22, 2012 2:30PM
Joseph Lombardo, director of Tiffany & Co. at Northbrook Court, removed the 18-karat Tiffany Metro bracelet ($5,200 value) from its case, offering Stephanie Wilson of Winnetka the opportunity to admire it.
Wilson put the bracelet on her left wrist and gasped.
“It’s just so simple and elegant,” Wilson said during a May 3 fashion show preview event benefiting the Winnetka Board of the Northwestern University Settlement House.
The goal was to support Northwestern University Settlement, an initiative that provides schooling and more for Chicago families.
Of the bracelet that will be raffled off during the fall fashion show Style Under the Stars, Wilson said, “It [the bracelet] makes such a statement; I think that’s what Tiffany is all about, simple and elegance.”
Since 1926 the fashion show — the longest-running fashion show on the North Shore — has been raising funds for the Northwestern University Settlement to help facilitate and sustain community programs such as a charter school (Rowe Elementary School), summer camps (House in the Wood near Lake Geneva, Wis.) and children’s theater workshops. Last year the show raised $80,000.
The 86th annual fashion show will take place on Sept. 27 at Michigan Shores Club in Wilmette.
During the Tiffany & Co. event, board members modeled fashions that will be featured come autumn. Brooke Wanzenberg of Winnetka looked stunning in a breezy gown.
“This is a Helmut Lang dress from GAVIN in Evanston,” Wanzenberg said.
The ethereal value of the Metro bracelet, which features an eternity ring style, drew many admirers, including Wanzenberg.
“I think it’s kind of hokey,” said Connie Magnuson of Chicago, past president of the Winnetka Board of Northwestern University Settlement, “but it [the bracelet] symbolizes the circle of life.
“Everything from little kids from Head Start all the way to our Golden Agers program, yeah, it’s [the bracelet, other donations] a great way to fundraise for the board. It [Northwestern Settlement] is a hand up, not a hand out,” Magnuson added.
“I would say the circle of life in this instance would be of having a community come together to help families,” said Lombardo of Northbrook about the bracelet. “If we focus on that, I think it’s cyclical, that we can always support each other and help people in need.”
The Northwestern University Settlement, whose mission is “opening doors of opportunity,” welcomes 350 children from the kindergarten to the fourth grade at Rowe Elementary School at 1424 N. Cleaver in Chicago.
“I couldn’t be more proud,” said Ron Manderscheid, president of Northwestern University Settlement, referring to students of Rowe Elementary School.
“We have a long waiting list,” he lamented. “And it’s by lottery. And it’s heartbreaking not to be able to admit as many children that want to be there.”
But the Northbrook Court Tiffany & Co. fashion show preview event offered hope.
“I think that the shout out for this evening is that Northwestern Settlement is extraordinarily blessed to have this wonderful group of people be so devoted to make sure everything we do is so supported,” Manderscheid said.
To learn more about Northwestern Settlement, visit nush.org and roweelementaryschool.org
