SHELL POINT FASHION SHOW OFFERED FUN AND FASHION WHILE RAISING MONEY FOR A GOOD CAUSE

FORT MYERS, Fla. (March 23, 2010) — Nearly 400 guests enjoyed an afternoon of spring fashions from Bell Tower Shops at the 2010 Shell Point Fashion Show and Tea, which raised $9,685 to benefit the community's skilled nursing facility, which provides services to seniors throughout Southwest Florida.

(left) Shell Point resident Augusta Crane

The theme for this year's event was "Confetti! The Colors of Spring" and showcased spring and summer fashions from Bell Tower Shops, which were generously provided by Talbots, Cache, Draper's and Damon's, White House Black Market, Trader Rick's, Wallaby Trading Co., and Patchington. More than 30 women of all ages modeled the fashions, which included a variety of spring and summer wear, cruise and resort styles, casual day and evening wear, plus updated looks for the office.

"The annual fashion show has always been one of the highlights of the spring social calendar here at Shell Point and this year was no exception," said Lynn Schneider, assistant vice president of marketing and communications at Shell Point. "We held the show for several years and then decided to take a break and focus on other events, but the requests to bring back the show made us realize how much our residents and guests missed it. I am thrilled that we have reintroduced this event and that it was so well attended."

Guests filled the auditorium and viewed the beautiful, professionally-designed show while they enjoyed delicious refreshments in a festive atmosphere that was decorated for the occasion.

"You might say we went a little dotty!" said Schneider, "Each year we like to pick a theme that will provide a fun, playful aspect to the event. When we saw the beautiful bright colors that were being featured in the spring fashions at Bell Tower Shops this year, they reminded us of confetti and we turned that idea into our theme."

(left) FineMark Bank manager Susan Chicone
(right) Shell Point resident Winnie Ballard

Among several design elements used for the confetti theme were giant dots, painted to match the bright artwork on the invitation and positioned to create a backdrop on the stage. Special lighting effects were used to cast more colorful dots along the walls of the event center.
The professionally styled show featured 87 outfits which were described by emcees Lynn Schneider and Dawn Boren, director of resident life and resort services for the community. In addition to reaching its fundraising goals, the fashion show was also a successful event for the retailers who participated in the event.

"The Shell Point and Bell Tower Shops fashion show has always been a very popular event and we have seen immediate sales results following the shows," said Amy Fletcher, marketing manager for Bell Tower Shops. "In today's economic environment, it is more important than ever to maintain a presence in the minds of consumers and this type of event is a good way to do that."

Bell Tower Shops has been hard at work on a recent rebranding effort that has including updating the name and logo, introducing a series of innovative special events held at the shopping center, and a complete renovation of the facility which includes a new color scheme in pink and brown tones.

"Updating our image and staying fresh is part of our fashion forward approach to attracting shoppers in this area," she added.

Shell Point Retirement Community is a not-for-profit continuing care retirement community located in Fort Myers just off Summerlin Road, two miles before the Sanibel causeway. Shell Point has received national accreditation from CARF-CCAC, and is a nationally recognized leader in the retirement industry. The community offers retirement living in a resort-style environment with an 18-hole championship golf course, deep water boating access, and recreational and fitness facilities. To learn more about Shell Point, visit us at www.shellpoint.org or call 1-800-780-1131.
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