CAREER WARDROBE GALA, I learned: SUSIE CELEK CAN DO A SPLIT

Last week Career Wardrobe held it’s annual fashion show gala in the Grand Ballroom at the Hyatt in the Bellevue. Lots of changes this year, first look at their new branding, fresh and current.
Secondly, and one of the best ideas, a prolong cocktail hour with buffet stations.  After an hour we all headed into the ballroom and enjoyed sit down dessert dining while enjoying the action on the runway.

During the cocktail hour there was an extensive silent auction too. Lot’s of great items, and several Viv Pickle purses signed by celebrities.

Devin and Carrie Ann D’Andrea, Melanie Restad and Angelina Martin. The gals work for Viv Pickle as seamstress and created the bags that were sold at the night’s auction. The design is collaboration between their boss and the Career Wardrobe, then they create them. Their favorite is definitely Elmo.

Ann Kelly, Christine Doyle and Tamzen Harrington, Career Wardrobe board chair

Celia Brown, Donna Coghlan and Abby Siegel-Greenberg

Robin Bender Stevens, Cari Feiler Bender and Laura Bender Koropey

Shawn Huston and Nikki Johnson Huston, Esq  Career Wardrobe honored Nikki,an assistant city solicitor for the City of Philadelphia, with the “Fashioning Futures for Women Award for overcoming homelessness and poverty creating a successful life and being a role model to others.

great crowd, sold out at

Susan Taylor, Lisa Aronson, Robin Rodin and Stephanie Marsh Golson

Nina Wilson, Reba Poole, and Dawn Wilson, all that hats in the nights runway show were created by Dust to Dawn, her company.

Also strutting the runway for charity was Skin Palette’s Susie Celek and Julie Dorenbos

Every year the ladies of the news donate their time, and then the clothes off their back to the Career Wardrobe. Fox 29’s Karen Hepp, 6 ABC’s Alicia Vitarelli, CBS 3′s Erika von Tiehl and career wardrobe client Ernestine Volcy

Tamzen Harrington, outgoing Career Wardrobe board chair and Sheri Cole, executive director of Career Wardrobe

Co-chairs for this years event Paige Wolfe, Paige Wolf, Media and Public Relations and in coming board chair Veronica McKee, The Haverford Trust Company

Everett Gillison, deputy mayor for public safety of the city of Philadelphia is grateful to have the MC position every year, as Monique Braxton, NBC10 introduces him.

6 ABC’s Alicia Vitarelli

Marian Conicella Publisher Philadelphia Magazine

hats and head pieces were provided by Dawn Wilson of Dust to Dawn Fashions

Joey Fortman recreating a shot I had placed in Michael Klein’s Philly Inquirer column when I was a contributor.

Buff Susie Celek!!

Julie Dorenbos and Susie Celek with the great auctioneer Jason Katz

Susie Celek shows us just how stretchable the body rock material is

What’s the name of the female Phillies Phanatic?

The Elmo Bag was so adorable, sold for $350. John Stewart tickets went for $2,000, Colin Farrell bag $400, Jessica Alba $250, Flyers Bag signed by 3 players $600, $2600 Eagles tix in the Mayor’s box and

Marie Procacci and Chris Urban. Marie snagged the January Jones, signed Mad Man bag for $300, but she’s never seen the show. She just loved the bag.

Then the Phanatic posed with the fans for about 30 minutes.Check out Career Wardrobe, and ladies donate your business clothing to help women transition into the work force.