Coaxing fashion show to leap bay quite a feat

© St. Petersburg Times,
published November 7, 2001

At first, and we hope not a last: a fashion show by Saks Fifth Avenue in St. Petersburg. The Tampa retailer rarely agrees to do one and has never had one here, so it was a coup for the women who arranged it as a benefit for ALPHA, an agency that provides housing and services to pregnant women and new mothers and their children.

Co-chairwomen Kathy Nestor and Janet Peterson were the persuasive duo who coaxed Saks over the bridge for the event Friday at the St. Petersburg Yacht Club. It was their debut as party chairs and they are clearly fast learners. They had a good committee behind them that included Sue Brett, Kathy Saunders, Susan Mittermayr, Mimi Eckert, Sue Heron, Hillary Coleman, Karen Evans and Mary Alexander.

And what a show. It did not have any special effects or gimmicks, but the quality of the clothes, the professionalism and the pacing made it one of the best I've seen in a long time.

It opened with models swanning down the runway wrapped in full-length coats of ermine, fox and mink, pausing to flash the audience and revealing exquisite lingerie under their furs. It gave us a little jolt -- actually it gave about a dozen men who had assembled in the back of the ballroom a major charge because a lot of applause was generated from that quarter.

They were followed by a male model in leather pants -- you can guess the reaction from the mostly female audience -- which prompted Mrs. Nestor to remark, "I think they want to see his lingerie."

We did not, but we did see lots more beautiful things. Debbie Sembler and I were especially taken with a feather skirt that we agreed her children and my dog would have a lot of fun with.

The Rev. Robert Gibbons of St. Paul's Church seemed stunned by the whole thing.

"This is my first fashion show ever," he said. "Especially after that first part, I'm almost speechless."

But most of the group were veterans of these events. The crowd of fashionistas included Elaine Hearn, Betty Shamas, Joann Barger, Janet Carroll, Louise Carroll, Saks store manager Kathy Warner, Stephanie Goforth, Betty Woods, Elaine Neuman, Anna Maria Dickhaus, Keith Tulloch, Catherine McGarry, Debbie Harris, Karen Richardson, Rebecca Nannen Hearn, Shirley Coletti; Patsy Dunlap, Sally Poynter, Barbara Fernandez, Johanna Nekvasil and Joe Saunders, who is not a fashion show veteran or a fashionista but is president of ALPHA's board.

The pelican may seem an unlikely symbol for major donors, but that is the case at the Museum of Fine Arts where they are members of the Order of the Pelican.

And this is the reason. The late Margaret Acheson Stuart founded the museum, and pelicans figure prominently on the Stuart family crest. Now you know.

The nonavian Pelicans were feted Friday at a party at the museum, welcomed by board president Carol Upham, new museum director John Schloder and membership chair Nancy Rutland. In the flock were Sam and Demi Rahall; Drs. Rudy and Starr Weihe; Dr. Frank and Ann Massari, back from their annual summer stay in Colorado; Barbara Smith, back from her annual summer stay in Colorado; Dick and Helen Minck, back from their annual summer stay in Ohio; Harriett Strum; John and Frances Doyle; Brian Wiltshire; Mary Christian; Fran Futch; David Knowlton and Dr. Susan Beaven; Neil and Susie Savage; Dr. Jim and Donna Nagelsen; Cary Bond and her daughter Cary Bond Thomas; Carl and Betty Bowley; and director emeritus Michael Milkovich, who will leave soon for Croatia for a first-ever gathering of Croatian art historians, which has to be a rarefied group.

Thelma Rothman did a lovely job of organizing the party, including commissioning amazing floral arrangements by Delma, huge billows of roses and delphiniums.

If it is true that you reap what you sow, then Celma Mastry deserves to reap quantities of accolades, which she did on Sunday at the Golden Baton Brunch. The brunch is hosted by the St. Petersburg Guild of the Florida Orchestra to recognize an outstanding patron of the orchestra.

Mrs. Mastry joins a list of distinguished recipients of the golden baton and she is a wonderful choice for this year's honor.

Celma is a past president of the guild and has worked as a volunteer on behalf of the orchestra for years as well as being a generous donor. Almost 130 friends and family packed the waterfront room of the St. Petersburg Yacht Club to wish her well. Six of her eight children and some of their families were able to attend (two live out of town): Adibe and Tina Mastry; Tino and Penny Mastry; Richard and Denise Mastry with their daughter Melanie; Julie Janssen; Celmita Mastry; Claudette and Stan Carlan, Micheal Mastry with daughter Olivia, and Tom McNeill, Denise Mastry's brother. Mrs. Mastry, a widow, was escorted by Dr. Joe Pilkington.

During the prebrunch cocktail hour, Priscilla Young compared cruise notes with Ardith Rutland. Mrs. Young is returning from and Mrs. Rutland is departing for the Greek islands.

Realtor Helen Torres, a past recipient of the award who sponsors the free concert in the park each fall, brought Edward Campbell, who is a new resident of the area.

Visiting with Sheila Templemann was Sharon Clayton Keller, who was in Palm Beach last weekend for a black-tie gala at Mar a Lago with husband G.W., Mrs. Mastry and Dr. Pilkington, Jim and Rosemary Johnson and Don and Connie Whitehead.

"We were entertained by the Palm Beach Opera and the Palm Beach Ballet," she said. "We didn't dance to a band; we had a full orchestra. A full buffet with food stations was set up around the pool for appetizers, then we had a seated served dinner. But when tickets are $500, you expect that." I should think so.

Also nice to see were Vicki Fox, Ray and Nancy Murray; guild president Charlotte Krizek, who says she is "this close" to signing up a place for this year's designer Showhouse; Dr. Royce Hobby; Dr. Norval Marr; brunch chair Mary Shuh and husband Fred; John Murphy and Edie Spies; Mabel Easton; Jay and Joan Loader; Ellen McNeice; Harold and Alice Radcliffe; Bernice McCune; Pat Howells; Connie Kone; Bob and Jeanne Nelson; Harley and Maritza Smith; Skipp and Joyce Fraser and the orchestra's executive director, Leonard Stone.

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