Fashion police

On the Velvet II catwalk

By Noah Bruce

Backstage at Velvet II, model Jennifer Amara is waiting for her turn on the catwalk. Tall and statuesque, Jennifer is dressed to kill in a burgundy skirt, an embroidered camisole top, fox boa, and vintage diamond jewelry.

Actually there isn’t really a backstage. She’s on the wide stairs that serve as backstage at the Pavilion, where about 20 models wait in line. And, except for tonight, Jennifer isn’t really a model; she’s a student at the University of Southern Maine.

“I’m really nervous right now,” she says, as her foot tap-taps on the stairs.

“Getting dressed was really fun,” she says. “The energy in the dressing area was very cool.”

Now it’s almost her turn. A man approaches Jennifer and gives her some stage advice.

“Go up there and show some elegant attitude,” he says.

And that is what she does.

Jennifer hops on the catwalk and, walking in time to the beat laid down by the Munjoy Hill Society, she saunters to the end of the runway. She turns to the left, turns to the right, gives some haughty face to the crowd and exits the stage. Her 15 seconds are up.

Velvet II (which was held last week) is a benefit organized by the Peabody House, which provides shelter, support, and care for people living with HIV; and Rippleffect, an organization that educates young people about the risks facing them in their daily lives, such as addiction, low self-esteem, and depression.

The evening consists of three events: a silent auction of items from local stores, the fashion show, and a live auction of works by local artists. But it is the fashion show that steals the night.

Like Jennifer, all the models are first-timers. And like Jennifer, they all add a personal touch to their turn on the runway.

State Representative Ben Dudley gives a slightly bashful grin as he removes his jacket and drapes it over his shoulder. A muscular female model uses her sleeveless shirt to her advantage as she flexes her enormous biceps and the crowd howls. Filmmaker Kyle Rankin steps onto the catwalk and promptly bends over and slaps his leather-clad ass. And Blue Cross employee Melissa Delisle shakes what she’s got in a stunning red dress.

The fashion show ends surreally. Halfway through a lip-synch performance of “I’ve Got a New Attitude” by a local drag queen, police chief Michael Chitwood jumps onto the catwalk dressed in a pumpkin outfit, throws candy to the crowd, and links arms with the queen, escorting her offstage.

Becky Birrell, one of the organizer’s of the event and a director at the Peabody House, considers the gala a success. And she should: the event hauled in $25,000.