The Fifth annual Fishin’ For Fashion Show was nothing short of spectacular!

This year’s Carousel Music Theater cast – Megan Jane McGuinness, Matthew Anderson, Morgan Siegel, Monica Meng-Chieh Lu, Pedro Coppeti, and Ashley Grace Ryan (on keyboard) – entertained, singing several old-time tunes.

Emcee Michael Maxim, dressed in a black octopus onesie, accented by a high collar cape and top hat, and a large purple dolphin balloon atop his shoulder, welcomed the audience. Maxim is perfect for this gig. The Slick’s twins, Andy Bielli and Adele Savastano, got the show – and the crowd – in their original design. Wearing stunning sea anemone headpieces of cardboard and tissue paper and unitards (one pink, one blue) accented with fringe (torn hula hoop skirts),  they danced down the runway in rhinestone sandals from Oasis,  to “I’m Too Sexy.”

Judges Mary St. Pierre of Townsquare Media in Augusta (WCLZ, 92 Moose), Channel 8 news anchor Cristina Frank, and first-timer Jan Haedrich (CEO and head designer of Queensly Group and former designer for Ralph Lauren) chose these designers for awards ...

JUDGE’S CHOICE: July Hasch. July modeled her contemporary ensemble, with Boothbay Region High’s school colors of blue and gold, and composed of rip stop nylon pants from a spinnaker, a crocheted twine top and jacket out of overalls.

PEOPLE’S CHOICE: Original Design: Kay Kilpatrick / Model: Faith Blethen - A versatile up-cycled evening dress was designed for the environmentally conscious women on the go and represents Kay Kilpatrick’s inaugural 2018 S3 design line (science, sailing and sewing).  The dress is composed of three mix and match sections: The peplum bodice is made from the upper luff of the Snipe Main sail, using various radial seams and made of colorful recycled spinnaker material. Trimmed with red marine webbing with a clear plastic back and brass lacing grommets;  the pencil skirt is made from the foot and clew of the mail sail, yellow nylon spinnaker with Velcro tabs for added maneuverability; and the ruffle, which is detachable and can be used as a shawl or can double as a rain cover in a pinch. The outfit is accessorized with a small bandolier-style purse and matching hand tied monkey fist necklace and bracelet, made from black and white Para chord. Earrings are miniature port and starboard navigation buoys hand made by Corrine Poitras of East Boothbay.

STUDENT DESIGN: Reagan Cola. Reagan modeled her unique design created with used shrink wrap courtesy of Edgecomb Boat Works, and emblazoned with lobster bands in the design of a flower. Along the waist is a reclaimed lobster line found at Morse Mountain in Phippsburg. The shoes are adorned with the same lobster band flowers. Reagan paired lobster trap jewelry giving the outfit a lobster and nautical-themed finish.

LOCAL AWARD: Team Calypso (Susan Brackett, Lindy Bragg, Pandy Dickenson and Carrie Langlois)/ Model: Kathleen Sheehan Veins.  The black dress, with an 18-foot train, was made of sailcloth, grommets and sail rope. The stunning headpiece and collared bodice were created with a large mesh fish net adorned with authentic sea glass, and seashells all attached with fishing line and grounding wire. The clutch, created by Pandy Dickenson, was a bait box base covered with sailcloth, pearl and grounding wire. This was a design with a message calling attention to the waters of the world that are at risk due to  runoffs, plastics, warming and waste. To illustrate this point, plastic bags and other trash were sewn to the end of the train.

BEST MATERIALS: Tobi Nevers/Modeled by Page Brown.  The deep blue dress was eye-catching with the intricate mosaic of hand-painted and dyed netting, rope and seaweed pods used as beading. The homemade shoes were of cork and cording. Page’s evening clutch was adorned with rope and seaweed pod beading.

The new venue for the fashion show, the boat shed at Ocean Point Marina, was festooned with signal flags and sails, and the 40-foot lobster trap runway, accented by buoys on either side.

Fashion show director Dana Paolillo said despite the curve ball thrown by the microburst that took out power in East Boothbay two days before the show, the event was “terrific.”

“So many people said the boat shed was the best venue for the fashion show,” Paolillo said. “And it is. The boat shed ties in so well with what we’re trying to do with Harbor Fest: Celebrate the working waterfront. What better place to do that than on the working waterfront? And I really can’t say enough about Dan and Eileen (Miller, owners of Ocean Point Marina). They never said no. Whatever we needed, they were there.”

Models and designers not selected for an award by the judges, but who still rocked the runway were: Student Division – The BRHS Senior Class design/ model Hannah Cola; Team Della/model Della Hahn; Paulette Carter wearing  her own design; Benedict/Andrews Designs/model Olivia Paolillo; Hollylu Designs, modeled by Luanne Webb; Kathryn Sullivan designer/model Riley Sullivan; Deb Lewis and Martha Barker/model Natalia Gosselin; Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens/model Maeve Cullina.

Merchants with models gracing the runway: Ivy & Maine/models: Lexi Haedrich, Glory Blethen; House of Logan/models Lesley and Brian Blethen; Gretchen’s Closet/Madison Faulkingham and Chloe Arsenault models; The Village Store/Madea Harris, Emme and Sarah Harris; Janson’s/Hali Goodwin and Henry Drapeau; Slick’s Boutique/Judy Westlake, Stacey Laird, Connie Colby; St. Andrews Thrift Shop/Pam O’Conner and Susan Stapeton; Calypso/Kristine Heroud, Deanna Clarkson, Delly Clarkson;

Other merchants participating, lending accessories for models: A Silver Lining,  Calypso, Boothbay Harbor Framers (Got All Your Marbles jewelry).

The last model to take the runway was the emcee. Owning the runway, showman Maxim walked, giving his cape a dramatic whirl now and again.

Last but not least, we’ve got to mention those “Two Salty Dogs” Auggie and Max walking the runway with Liana Kingsbury in search of leftover snacks. What follows is directly from the emcee’s script: “...  Auggie is getting in the spirit of Fishin’ for Fashion with an original design. His up-cycled backpack is made from netting, bait bags, and an escape vent. It has that fishy smell Auggie loves so much and bait bags make a great place to store his toys and treats.  Max is wearing the Ultimate Trail Pack by Canine Equipment. This pack holds everything Max needs, plus has room for a cold beverage for Don and Liana. Max is also wearing a reversible bandana from Barkdannas of Maine.” Wooftastic!

The creativity this fashion show inspires, with its nautical, marine materials requirement, makes Fishin For Fashion a one of a kind event. Bravo to one and all!

All proceeds from Fishin For Fashion benefit Project Graduation.