Jane Clarke loves old vintage clothing and Denise Thomas loves old people and they’ve both built their Austin based businesses around these passions. “The first time I walked into Amelia’s, I felt like I was entering another time and place”, a period when people dressed with a real sense of pride.” said Denise Thomas, owner of Home Instead Senior Care in Austin. The thought of bringing our ladies, who are now in their 70’s and 80’s, for a tour was very exciting and immediately I started the preparations to make it an unforgettable day.

To make the day even more exciting we recruited Baldwin Beauty School to help our ladies feel more beautiful before the special event and we termed it “Senior Make-Over Day”. The day started at the beauty parlor where our ladies got free hair cut and make up. After the pampering, they were whisked away to the fashion show. Tea sandwiches were served and then Jane Clarke, the owner of Amelia’s Retro Vogue & Relics, kicked off Five Decades of Fashion with a black silk crepe asymmetric dress w/ black jet long flapper bead necklace, cuff bracelet and drop earrings nodding to the 20’s.

Next up, Clarke, spoke of a sundress from the 30’s worn by a sultry model walking through the crowd, “now this is a rarity, because during the depression, fabric was cut up and re-used for children’s clothes.” The ladies all nodded in agreement. This must have been a dress that something special happened in – like an engagement – for it to have been saved. The model wore had a model wear a floral print cotton voyle day-dress in mint green with a floral picture hat with hand-rolled cloth flowers and net detail. She wore a faceted a crystal necklace, wrist length gloves, amber hand beaded purse, white open toed pumps with accent vintage belt.

I represented a 40’s home-maker, and wore an apple print, cotton house-dress with eyelet trim, red button earrings, and green bake lite bracelet, as well as a hostess apron with hankie pocket and brown suede open toed sling-backs. I served tea sandwiches while wandering through the crowd and visited with our ladies.

Next up was a 1950’s sophisticated gal wearing a hand painted circle skirt w/ metallic colors, and a black-beaded cardigan with flats. Accenting the look, she wore sky blue aluminum cat eye Parisian Tura vintage glasses, and a copper cuff bracelet.

The last of the models represented the 60’s with black cocktail sheath w/ broach and pill-box hat, and let’s not forget the black file bag and black gloves.

Mrs. Neyland, sat next to me and remarked, “that’s the outfit I would have seen someone wearing at the officers club in Tokyo.” Her and her family spent many years in Japan after WWII and the memories became very vivid when she saw the model appear.

“The real thrill was being able to see the expressions and hearing the women talk about these memories; it was apparent that they were authentically inspired by the fashion show. I don’t recall them ever being so happy.” Said Denise Thomas, Owner, Home instead Senior Care in South Austin. “It’s about having a positive impact on our seniors, which is why I’m in this business.”

If you are interested in creating or attending a similar event to this, please contact us at (512) 347-9207

Home Instead Senior Care is a locally owned Austin business that employs professional CAREGivers to assist seniors to help them maintain their independence. The goal of Home Instead is to allow every senior the option of not having to move prematurely from their homes. We offer a variety of services including meal preparation, medication reminders, light housekeeping, transportation all with the goal of allowing older adults to maintain as active a lifestyle as possible. Providing services to hundreds of individuals and families throughout Austin, Lakeway, Dripping Springs and Hays Counties. For information about our services visit www.homeinstead.com/496 or call us at (512) 347-9207.

By Wendy R. Corn