Los Altos Rotary Club’s Fashionistas/Trashionistas Light Up the Stage
Sashaying to the thunderous applause and the awe-spiring wonderment and admiration by the Los Altos Rotary Club’s 250 members and guests, the striking fashionistas Ron, Duanni, Cleri, Donna, Brandon, Sally and yours truly showcased their innovative and eco-chic trash couture created and showcased by the seven talented models themselves in tribute to the Club’s extremely successful and nationally recognized Climate Action’s Program.
Photo courtesy of Los Altos Rotary
Under the brilliant orchestration and the amazing masterminded creativity, leadership and implementation by the outstanding Rotarians Stan Scardino, Carol Dabb, Cynthia Luedcke, Bonnie Burdett Walker and Mike Kerr, the Rotary Club’s high-tech Maestro extraordinaire, the “Trashionistas” Models stole the show by pivoting and trotting their flashy and trashy recyclable fashions at the July 27th kick-out ceremony for the outgoing President Chuck Lindauer proving that yesterdays’ trash became today’s fashion.
Ron Stefani, the Rotary Club’s Song Leader and the Leader of the “Dukes of Uke.”
Ron’s costume was made out of cellophane wrap and he performed the ever popular and very appropriate song “The Cellophane Man.”
Bravo Ron!
Duanni Hurd, The Rotary’s Satellite Club Committee Chair
Duanni Hurd, the “Daring Diva’s” ensemble was inspired by the Kardashian-Jenners grand fashion shown at the Met Gala 2024. It’s a smashing look designed by Oscar de la Renta. Duanni designed her own show stopper. The gown is made from Tyvek 100% synthetic polyethylene packing material. Rotary pins shape up and close the gown. Duanni pairs the beautiful gown with Manalo Blahnik slingback pumps, which she has kept in her closet for more than 20 years, to be ready to recycle and wear again and again.. Oh La La…
Clari Nolet, Co-Chair of the Climate Action committee.
Christian Dior’s “New Look” – Clari is modeling a couture outfit reminiscent of Christian Dior’s “New Look” from the 1940’s and 1950s. Christian Dior started using opulent fabrics, but today’s woman, especially Cleri, is practical and her glamorous interpretation is totally into recycling. On this divine black and pink creation please note the unique details, starting with the fascinator made from CDs, plastic and lithium-ion batteries. So chic and flattering! The piece de resistance is the belt. Fabricated by kindergarteners from the Mensa School. They have used a fanny pack that someone left in the trash, along with the large lithium-ion battery they were taking apart and scraps of old clothing. Just a marvel! The versatility of the clear bubble wrap makes it a perfect companion for casual and elegant looks. And nobody wears better than Cleri!
Donna Verna, the “Bubbly President Elect Donna”
Our “Bubbly President Elect Donna” absolutely pops in this stunning ensemble! “This just makes me want to pop the cork on a bottle of bubbly champagne and let the celebration begin! Note the smart utilization of her bubble wrap showcased the perfect set off the whimsical bubbly Rotary Blue sheath she wears absolutely everywhere – from her morning dog walk, to the grocery store to the office and finally on an evening out on the town. She leaves a trail of eyes popping everywhere she goes! And, of course, no modern woman wants to leave the house without her fascinator! Note the sweeping drop that perfectly frames her face and ties her headwear into her dress and stoll. Heads turn wherever Donna goes and in her wake she hears onlookers breathlessly whispering – “I’ll have what she’s having!”
Sally Chavez, Youth Service Director and BooksPlus Chair
Brandon Smith, Grants Committee Chair
“The Power Couple.”
Sally Chaves, who wore a flashy yellow cocktail dress set ablaze with shiny, classic rock CD discs that shimmered as she walked. The CDs were woven together and draped down the skirt and were sewn to the sparkly beaded belt and coral pink ribbon. Corrugated brown paper was sewn around the strapped top which was backless to the coral pink bow. The outfit was finished off with a crown of twisted bread wrapper plastic, a clear Gala Mickey Mouse plastic bag, and candles decorated with pink coral tissue paper and flowers cut from a Kleenex box.
Brandon Smith, (or was it Elvis?) hiding behind those dark Foster Grants and decked out in black slinky pants decorated with attached CDs and paired with a buttons-less peekaboo jacket lined with broken shiny CD pieces… Wow! What a site!! He kept a secret and did not reveal to me who created his truly flashy and sparkling outfit, but I have a suspicion it was assembled and glued on by his adorable six kids…
Lina Broydo, Speakers Committee
“Extra.. Extra, Read all About it!” What do you do with the dozens of glossy magazines you have been collecting for the past year? People, Time, Rotary, Silicon Valley, San Francisco, AARP, Punch – their colorful shiny covers ended up decorating my long tulle skirt and a large folding fan. Adding recyclable little red paper flowers and a bowl style straw hat decorated with the pages of the local newspaper and red flowers – added a class of the newsworthy pizzazz reflecting life in Silicon Valley and beyond…
Eat your heart out Giorgio Armani…
FYI: The decorated skirt and the fan are available for rent.. for a generous donation to the Los Altos Rotary Club’s Climate Action’s Program. Thanks.
The original designs on view and demonstrated by our creative and talented models, many never shown before, reflect Los Altos Rotary’s long-standing tradition of self-expression through fashion and support for its Climate Action’s Program chaired by Clari Nolet.
By Lina Broydo
