Once again, Boothbay Harbor Fest's annual Fishin’ for Fashion show wowed crowds as models walked across the deck at the Boothbay Harbor Oceanside Golf Resort, formerly Rocktide, where the show has been held for the past four years.

Michael Maxim again acted as emcee, and as always he kept the crowd informed and entertained with his wit and humor, not to mention his own innate knowledge of the fashion industry.

Twins Andy and Adele Bielli, owners of Slick’s Boutique, led the parade of models in the latest of their spectacularly designed marine-themed outfits, this year striking red body suits with red seaweed vines and kelp wrapped around them, and head pieces made of enormous red kelp leaves.

Around 50 models showed off outfits from local shops and boutiques, and designed and made by local designers. The theme for Fishin’ for Fashion is marine-nautical, and all of the original clothing worn was designed with that in mind, using materials from the fishing-marine industry.

The models arrived at a dock by boat, with Rusty Court at the helm, and walked up a boat ramp to the Oceanside deck, where they walked the runway in their crowd-pleasing outfits.

Hors d'oeuvres were served. Wine, beer and cocktails were available to the sold-out crowd of around 250 people.

Participating shops and boutiques were Slicks, Two Salty Dogs, House of Logan, Boothbay Harbor Apparel, Calypso, Boothbay Harbor Framers, Village Store, Janson's, Gretchen's Closet, and St. Andrews Thrift Store.

Original designers were Adele and Andy Bielli from Slick’s, Lorna Andrews, July Hasch, Megan Hudson, Della Hahn, Boothbay Region High School seniors, Christine DeTroy, Gaye Farrante for House of Logan, Team Cola, Kwiltz for Kids, Paulette Carter, Hollylu, Sandra Barry and Tobi Nevers.

After the show, the original design models each stood on a platform to allow guests to gawk at their innovative, beautiful, funny and always creative ensembles, while cameras snapped photos of them, and original design and merchants’ bags were auctioned off by Maxim.

Awards presented to original designers were: Judges’ Choice: Sandy Barry; People’s Choice: Toby Nevers; Local Designer: July Hasch; Student Category: BRHS seniors; and Original Design Bag: Lorna Andrews.

Barry's ensemble, worn by model Catherine Tracy, was inspired by the tuna fishermen from the New England coast: a vintage black sailcloth tunicshirt with an an appliqued school of tuna swimming up the back, and red pants made from a repurposed Grunden's jacket, with a braided nylon rope and tuna harpoon dart buckle. She wore handmade teak-soled flip flops, fashioned from a hatch from an old schooner.

Nevers’ model, Page Brown, wore a hand-painted vinyl creation adorned with handmade flowers from filters used in the marine science industry, capiz shells and mono filament fishing line.

Hasch modeled her own design, dedicated to late lobsterman Earl Brewer, of his old oil slicks and lobster trap nets that he and his wife, Dorothy, knit. A bumblebee pin on the yellow dress was Brewer's symbol for good luck.

BRHS seniors model Summer Chamberlin wore a dress made from marine strapping and sailcloth. The eye-catching dress swirled with each step and breath of wind.

Event organizer Lori Reynolds said Dana Paolillo, the founder of the event, volunteered countless hours to the planning and production of the show, “working with merchants, designers and students for months, and as many attendees told me yesterday, it gets better every year. Many thanks to Dana, for her generous support to BRHS Project Graduation, Boothbay Harbor Fest and our business community.”

The show was produced in part by seniors from BRHS, with proceeds going to their cause, Project Graduation, with help from the local business community.