Head Over Heels: Housing Works Has Heart
Posted by Volunteer , February 12, 2010 at 10:30pm
By: Annie Cofone, Volunteer
The attraction to volunteering with Housing Works naturally comes from the organization’s ability to draw committed staff and community to bring awareness and funding to support homeless New Yorkers living with HIV and AIDS… and yet I’m willing to admit that before I knew this firsthand, I was initially drawn to their 23rd Street location’s fantastically decorated window displays.Amid a row of other historically valued charity shops including The Salvation Army and Goodwill, its immediate appeal is that it’s only shop to transform its storefront windows weekly, with an aesthetic edge that attracts locals, fashionistas and, as I personally witnessed last winter, Bill Clinton.
It’s been very easy to fall in love with the Housing Works crew and the fundraisers they host; from ‘Bride for a Buck’ to ‘Fashion for Action’ to ‘Design on a Dime’, HW attracts the most decorated of NY fashion’s elite, with smashing sales on designer duds, and fantastic food and drinks from their in-house catering group. And on February 12, that same 23rd Street store hosted another of its most popular events: the annual Housing Works Has Heart Event – a fashion show created specifically for the transgender community at HW to celebrate transgender life, bring awareness to the HW mission, and – perhaps less stoically – draw attention to organization’s surprisingly extensive collection of pink and red hued clothing and accessories.
Decorated in full-on Valentine’s flair, the store’s design expertise was so precise, even the top shelves of the jewelry cabinets featured only heart shaped or pink pieces.The evening began with guests gathering over drinks and crudites, until attendees were invited to sit along the pink carpet runway.As the lights faded to disco rhythm beats, the night’s emcee Tyra A. Ross, a statuesque, slender woman sashayed her way onto the stage, introduced herself, and casually commented on several attendees’ attire (she was not a fan of everyone’s choices).
Anyone who attends HW’s events can quickly see that one of most fantastic parts about them is that they draw awareness to the HIV/AIDS epidemic in and of itself, however the fashion elements at Housing Works Has Heart does not take a back seat.The evening was also created to promote the high-quality, impeccably tailored clothing often donated to their various locations and available for auction online.
As the models began their walk, the rose runway lit up with metallic blazers, wool-woven capes, accessories ranging from thigh high stilettos, to a lace-adorned McQueen-esque top hat, and a Moschino handbag. The more classic looks included a fitted, slender light gray suit and a strapless coral ball gown with a fur throw. For the less conservative, a leather suit with red fringe.
The show went on to display an immaculate cast of faces cascading through the store – the audience cheering for their workmates and friends, the music loud enough to irk the elderly neighbors. One of the featured guests was the professionally trained entertainer – Karen Covergirl – whose opening act began with her adorned in a thin, silk tiger print dress, and gradually reduced to pasties and a long, high-cut skirt of the same material. She had the audience out of their seats with a cover of Li’l Kim and later, in a form fitting sparkling red one-piece jumper, covered Alicia Key’s solo “New York,” bringing down the house.
The event ended with a raffle drawing, and guests were invited to shop the store – the music continued, the bar was still busy, and the models soon changed into their more casual attired to mingle among the crowd and thank everyone for attending.
It goes without saying that it’s not everyday that we’re invited to volunteer for or attend a transgender fashion show…and perhaps the shame of it is that life would be a lot more fun if we could. An evening of fantastic performances, sartorial ingenuity, generous food and drinks – and time to celebrate the solidarity of the transgender community, the mission of Housing Works, and loving every fabulous minute of it.
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