UNION COUNTY, NJ — Although Janice Tellier worked as a Christian Dior designer in the 1970s, she never thought she’d be modeling at the age of 67.
“Never in my wildest dreams did I think I was going to model,” the Mountainside resident said while waiting to dress for third annual Generations in Style Fashion Show in the wedding suite at the Hilton Garden Inn in Springfield on Sept. 26.
Tellier was one of 13 models who participated in a show and luncheon put on by the Senior Citizens Council of Union County, a nonprofit organization that provides programs for seniors.
“It’s a great representation of seniors,” Tellier added. “Life goes on and now at our age, we’re doing things from a bucket list, the things we never did when we were younger. So it keeps us young. It’s exciting.”
Union County Senior Council Chairwoman Ellen Steinberg echoed those sentiments.
“People have a vision of what you are when you’re over 60 and their perception of people over 60 is ‘oh-my-gosh, you must be so old,’” Steinberg said. “But 60 is not old, and 60 is very vibrant, and so is 70, and so is 80. It’s about highlighting what you can do. And not everybody is built like these gorgeous runway models.”
The models, who ranged from 55 years old to late in their 80s, donned clothing from Lord & Taylor this year. They visited the Lord & Taylor in Westfield to pick out their outfits, which ranged from casual to formal.
“What we’re trying to do is show that fashion can work for any age,” said Jennifer Lane, the special events coordinator for Lord & Taylor Westfield. “We have women from their 60s and women who are in their 80s. Just to kind of show the ladies downstairs that you can work all of today’s trends into something that works.”
Live music kicked of the event earlier in the day, with a performance by the Karickter Duo. And Walter Sosnosky and Jason Krychiw, who is running for Township Committee in Union, volunteered to walk each model down the stairs.
About 400 people attended the event, sponsored by Trinitas Regional Medical Center among others, and funds were raised for the Senior Council through tickets sales for a tricky tray and silent auction.
“It’s just a nice day out,” said JoAnn Edwards of Plainfield. “The models, the clothes, the company. It’s just really nice. It’s just a nice event to come to for seniors.”
This year’s models included Grace Bradley, Cecilia Faukner, Terri Fisher, Barbara Katz, Chris Lettieri, Claire Mendheim, Gloria Nisky, Barbara Pittman, Patricia Russell, Katherine Salimbene, Tonica Sosnosky, Janice Tellier and Galina Wood.
The Senior Citizens Council of Union County will host its 12th annual Health and Lifestyle Fair at The Westwood in Garwood on Nov. 1, at 9 a.m.
It’s so nice to see some of the positives out there for Seniors.