Izod and Van Heusen-Bass added to fashion show’s lineup
THE VILLAGES — From plant manager to fashion icon.
Village of Poinciana resident Bob Whitney will make his modeling debut one week from today in a fashion show held upstairs at Katie Belle’s.
Whitney, a Village of Poinciana resident, and his wife, Susan, will model clothing from the Izod and Van Heusen-Bass stores.
“I’m a little nervous,” Whitney said while straightening shoes at the Van Heusen-Bass store at Lake Sumter Landing, where he is a sales associate.
Susan is a sales associate just around the corner at the Izod store.
According to Kay Mosure, who coordinates the weekly lunchtime fashion shows for The Villages Entertainment Department, the Feb. 7 event will mark the return of male models to the fashion shows.
“It has probably been a couple of years,” Mosure said, “since we had a group of men modeling regularly.”
Fashion shows, which will run through the end of March — excluding Feb. 21 — feature clothing and accessories from Villages-area shops. Most retailers carry women’s fashions, so adding men’s clothing to the mix will be refreshing for spectators.
“Women look forward to this,” Mosure said, “because they can see the latest clothing for men and decide upon what they would like to go and buy for their husbands.”
Men, who are sometimes in the audiences, will appreciate being acknowledged, Mosure said.
The Van Heusen-Bass and Izod stores are new to the fashion show lineup, but it is likely Villagers are familiar with the retailers, both of which opened in November 2006.
Even so, the fashion show will offer a greater understanding of what these retailers offer.
“The main idea is that everyone can see the variety that we have,” Van Heusen-Bass manager Alicia Redding said. “A lot of people think we have fashions only for men because Van Heusen is (associated with) men.”
In reality, the store has dress and dress casual clothing for men and women. And there are shoes for both genders.
Izod manager Crystal Schrock described Izod fashions — again for men and women — as “primarily golf.”
“We hope that residents who haven’t checked us out yet,” Schrock said, “will find something they want to come and see.”
Fashion show attendees are seated beginning at 11 a.m., and may immediately select from the lunch buffet, which costs $7.99. Modeling begins at 11:30 a.m. and continues until approximately 1 p.m.
Reservations are recommended for guaranteed seating. Call the Cattle Baron Club at 750-5981; leave a message including name and telephone number if the restaurant is closed.
Jill Sherman is a reporter with the Daily Sun. She can be contacted at 753-1119, ext. 9253, or jill.sherman@thevillagesmedia.com.
