Thursday was a day more than a year in the making for Karen Mondora.
Mondora, director of public services for the city of Farmington Hills, had been encouraged to take part in the 2017 Longacre House fashion show, but a conflict in her schedule prevented her from doing so.
So Mondora waited a year and Thursday was among 15 volunteer models who walked the runway in the annual fundraiser that helps raise money to augment Longacre House's budget.
"This has been on the books for a year now," said Mondora, who was initially encouraged by Ellen Schnackel, the city's director of special services, who also modeled Thursday. "The event is important to the community. This was my way to support the Longacre House."
Organizers expected the event, which sold some 115 tickets, to raise some $7,000, money that will be used to improve the aesthetics at Longacre House. Fashion show co-chair Linda Wantin said the money will be used, among other things, to replace flooring in the hallways and add some decorative touches on the doors.
"The old house needs a lot of care ... we do the 'jewelry' part," said Wantin, who has been associated with Longacre House for 37 years. "We try to do projects the normal budget can't afford."
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Valerie Knol supports those efforts whole-heartedly. The Farmington Hills city councilwoman was a willing participant in the fashion show.
Knol, who has done the show several times, led the parade of models in an off-the-shoulder dress and animal-print jacket that drew applause from the crowd.
After that turn, she said she's happy to be helping.
"It's not me, it's the clothes," she said, laughing off the crowd reaction. "It's fun and it's for a great cause. Preserving the Longacre House is very important. Anything I can do to help, I'm happy to do."
Fashions for the show were provided once again by The Clothing Cove in Milford, which donated one casual and one more-formal outfit for each of the models. The Longacre House show is one of more than a dozen shows for which The Clothing Cove provides clothes.
"It really gives us some exposure," Clothing Cove manager Joanne Behmlander said. "They're a great group of ladies and they're really fun to work with. We really love getting out into the community."
Contact Brad Kadrich at bkadrich@hometownlife.com. Follow him on Twitter: @bkadrich.
https://www.hometownlife.com/story/news/local/farmington/2018/09/27/fashion-and-fun-dominate-annual-longacre-show/1441918002/
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