Age is no barrier to a good runway “strut”, and a Bay of Plenty retirement village has proved just that as residents took the catwalk for a charity fashion show.
From fighter pilot to fashion model — one Bay of Plenty retiree says he rarely gets nervous, but modelling has now made the list.
“I’ll tell you what, I thought that dentists and women were my two scary things, but now I’m adding being a model.”
Twelve ladies and three gents from Pacific Lakes Retirement Village in Pāpāmoa perfected their walk, twirl and pose after 10 weeks of training.
On Tuesday, they modelled outfits from Mount Maunganui boutiques to a crowd of more than 160 — all to raise money for the Cancer Society.
Mike Rudd, resident and now model, said a fashion show was outside his comfort zone but thought he’d give it a go.
“Interestingly, it’s been quite challenging, actually, surprisingly challenging. It looks easy, but it’s not so easy.”
He said he learnt “the basics” of how to walk, strut, and pose.
Nick Lewis (front) walking in the fashion show finale with fellow model Mike Rudd (back). Photo / Kelly O'Hara
“Also, the complexities of the logistics of who comes in where, what goes on backstage, and all that, there’s a little bit more to it than meets the eye.”
Rudd said what he enjoyed most was gaining greater self-awareness.
“I think it’s good to push yourself outside your comfort zone and challenge yourself, particularly in later years.”
Rudd, who was a fighter pilot by trade, said he didn’t normally get nervous about anything.
“I’ll tell you what, I thought that dentists and women were my two scary things, but now I’m adding being a model.”
The residents modelled clothes from shops along Mount Maunganui’s Mainstreet, including Black Pepper, Hilary Pointon Fashion, Status Clothing, Bettie Monroe, Magazine Designer Clothing, and Robertson’s Menswear.
Village resident Julie Washer said she took part in the fashion show as a way to give back to the village. Photo / Kelly O'Hara
Village resident Julie Washer said she took part in the fashion show as a way to give back to the village.
“I just felt it’d be a lovely way to present something and be part of a team, and the team has been marvellous.”
She said training was “excellent” and she couldn’t have wished for anything better.
The group learnt how to walk down a runway, turn, disrobe and redress in time with music.
“You think you’ve got a lot of time when you get off the catwalk, but you haven’t; you must actually have assistance with dresses and everything.”
Washer said her advice to other’s thinking about trying something new was to just do it.
“Really it’s given me confidence in myself if anything and once you learn how to do it, you get up there and strut your stuff, it’s just fun.”
Jill Cotter, who organised the show, has been putting together fashion shows for a number of years including in London.
She said the Pacific Lakes Village new pavilion building “needed a fashion show”.
Jill Cotter organised the fashion show and has been putting together fashion shows for several years, including in London. Photo / Kelly O'Hara
“I thought if I can get the residents trained up to be models, then we can put on a fashion show.”
Cotter said the group had been training for “a long time”, 10 weeks in total.
“They’ve been wonderful, and you’d be amazed at how good they are. They’ve just got on with it and improved week by week.”
When asked what message she hoped the event would say about the aged community, Cotter said, “Whatever age you are, you can do it”.
“People get to an age when they don’t care and just wear the same old thing, but I think they see another style of wearing clothes, see the clothes in movement and how they work.”
The fashion parade drew a crowd of more than 160 attendees, and proceeds from tickets were donated to the Cancer Society.
Kaitlyn Morrell is a journalist for the Bay of Plenty Times and Rotorua Daily Post. She has lived in the region for several years and studied journalism at Massey University.