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Fashion at Fine Home Source

by Kathryn Boughton

The 2017 Fine Home Source event, slated for this Saturday from 10AM to 5PM in Millbrook, is steadily widening its scope to incorporate new features. Initially a venue solely to introduce visitors to luxury concepts and products for the home, it is now exploring the world of fashion, hosting a Plein Air Art Event and Auction, and presenting short concerts by performers such as the Evergreen Chorus, a women’s barbershop quartet, and jazz pianist, Larry Hamm.

“This is the second year for the fashion show,” said Annette Santa Croce, office manager for Crisp Architects, hosts of the Fine Home Source event. “The fashion show is more of an entertainment factor, but it brings everyone together. We don’t get models, it’s everyday people you will meet anywhere—our families and friends. We have a lot of high school kids modeling for us.”

She said a changing schedule of fashion outlets showcase everything from styles appropriate for everyday wear to those for special occasions. Participating vendors offer an ever-changing panoply of clothing. This year sees J. McLaughlin, Orvis, Crystal Boutique and J Hilburn displaying their goods.

Their styles vary from the casual-but-chic daywear of J. McLaughlin to the relaxed country garb designed to complement the lifestyle at Orvis Sandanona in Millbrook, the oldest permitted shotgun shooting club in the country, whose main lodge was built in the first decades of the 19th century.

Orvis’ classic women’s clothing offers collections crafted from top-quality materials, designed to allow the wearer to combine different pieces to create ensembles suitable for different times of the day. Jackets and blazers pair seamlessly with everything from sweaters to classic blouses, casually elegant sweatshirts and essential tees and polo shirts. They might be worn with an Orvis’ vest with pants or jeans, or over a skirt or dress.

Other brands are marketed at Orvis Sandanona, companies are chosen because they mirror the firm’s quality standards while working well with Orvis’ own designs.

J. Hilburn, a new addition to the fashion show this year, provides a bridge between custom tailoring and modern efficiency. The firm, which works with the best Italian mills and family owned factories in Portugal and Malaysia, cuts out the middle man, engaging directly with customers to make clothing one garment at a time and thus avoiding unnecessary inventory and mark-ups.

There will be evening gowns displayed by Crystal Beauty Bar & Boutique, an all-inclusive site in Lagrangeville that caters to the woman with a special occasion. From the top of her head to the tip of her toes, the boutique promises to “solve all princess problems with stunning gowns, hair styling and make-up.”

A different kind of artistry will be on view at the 2017 Fine Home Source in the Plein Air Art Event & Auction. Twenty-five artists will be working on site to create paintings inspired by their surroundings. At the end of the day, all the paintings will be available for purchase in a silent auction.

However, the heart of the event remains the exhibitors who reveal how patrons can bring their new or renovated homes to higher levels of comfort, elegance and efficiency. There will be traditional artisans such as furniture makers, faux finishers, plasterers and millwork, as well as the latest in green solutions such as geo-thermal systems, solar alternatives and eco-friendly building products. AV systems, energy efficient appliances, whole house generators and wine cellars will be featured, as will be experts in landscape design and related products such as fencing, weathervanes, saunas and pools.

“People will find extraordinary craftsmen at the show,” said Santa Croce. “They can discuss anything from bowling alleys for the home to residential elevators, windows with automatic screens to home theaters. There will be exhibitors showcasing fabrics for re-upholstery and draperies. Ethan Allen Furniture will be there to showcase its custom pieces and Tesla will display solar-powered shingles.

She said that among today’s coffee cognizanti there is considerable interest in coffee bars for the kitchen with high-tech machines to make the best of brews. Ammirati, a leading importer of La Cimbali espresso machines and Lavazza espresso coffee, will be there to introduce visitors to specialty coffee products and an array of traditional and espresso machines.

The Fine Home Source event will be held at 3327 Franklin Avenue at the Millbrook Bandshell in the Village of Millbrook, New York.

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