Annual Show Celebrates Fashion, Fellowship

Though clothes, raffle prizes and food took top billing at the 's annual luncheon and fashion show, fellowship stole the spotlight.

Nearly 150 women — the large majority of whom are not members of the women's club — gathered at the Country Club at Fairfax for the April 13 event, which raised $1,650 to benefit charities the Oakton Women's Club will choose at their next meeting May 18.

But most attendees would say the fashion and food were just extra perks to an afternoon of socializing and networking.

"It gives us a chance to network as women. There are people here from all kinds of groups that do charitable work," said Linda Byrne, president of Oakton Women's Club. "It's a good opportunity to mix and mingle, sit down and have lunch together, and just connect."

Women from charitable group came from all over the local area, including other women's clubs, Vale Club, Fairfax Symphony, Autism Speaks, Shepherd's Center of Oakton-Vienna.

Local businesses — including , and — contributed prizes for the raffle.

"We may look like a bunch of aging moms and grandmas, but everyone has a unique footprint from roles that included a County Supervisor, lawyers, nonprofit board members and employees, fortune 500 executives, local business owners, stay-at-home moms to retirees, all whom I would venture have and continue to contribute their time and talent to the betterment of their local community," said Cherie Lejeune, a social media strategist for nonprofits. "I was thrilled to be with this group today not only for the camaraderie, but yes, great connections to collaborate on other new projects."

All money raised came from ticket and raffle sales. The fashion show, which featured clothes from Details of Occoquan, served as entertainment and not as a way to raise money for the women's club.

But in the end, it was the fashion show that got all the busy women to sit still and look forward, to ooh and ahh in unison at the outfits that ranged from casual to evening wear.

"The club has been doing the fashion show for more than 25 years," Byrne said. "In the beginning, the Oakton Women's Club tried various events for fundraising, but it was the fashion show that stuck."