Local company to host charity fashion show
Aug. 22—HIGH POINT — The first High Point Fashion's Night Out at The Sherrod will be held Oct. 1 in remembrance of a gifted designer, with proceeds to benefit the new High Point Center for Child Wellness — a Family Service of the Piedmont center.
Tickets are available now and 20 to 25 fashion-show models are being selected to walk the 50-foot red carpet runway in a tent to be set up outside Allen & James Interior Design's location in The Sherrod, 1110 N. Main St.
High Point Fashion's Night Out will be a charity fashion show featuring Monkee's of High Point clothing and Simon Jewelers' jewelry.
The first of what is expected to be an annual event is in memory of noted furniture designer Michael Delgaudio, according to Stephanie James, designer and co-owner of Allen & James Interior Design. Delgaudio had moved to High Point from Cleveland, and worked more than 40 years at many prominent furniture companies, such as Beacon Hill, Century, Boyles, Hickory White, Sherill and Marge Carson.
"He was very important and a leader in our furniture industry, where he did merchandising, product development and had the most fabulous showrooms," James said. "I always followed and admired him. He had the best eye and would do seminars. When you're in the industry and you see talent like that you learn a lot from him."
James recalled feeling star-struck three years ago when Delgaudio visited her store. He told her he loved the energy of her store and wanted to bring his design clients there. He said he could envision events such as a fashion show coming down the steps at The Sherrod.
"The very next morning he died," James said. "I told his wife Julie Delgaudio, I'm going to have a fashion show one day in honor of him. Three years later it came together."
James called Katy Erikson, owner of chic boutique Monkee's of High Point, to relate the story about Delgaudio, who died of a heart attack Nov. 10, 2018. After Erickson agreed to help with clothing, Gary Simon of Simon Jewelers quickly signed on to supply the latest jewelry for the fashion show models to wear.
Erikson said her store receives its fall clothing lines in August, September and through October.
"We don't know exactly what we're going to have in the store yet, but we feel confident we'll be able to provide some really fun, neat and interesting clothing for the show," Erikson said.
Shannon Snipes, store manager/buyer for Allen & James, said the retail store will be open but the event will take place mostly in a tent on the site.
"We're hoping for 250 to 300 people," Snipes said.
The event will include a tribute to Delgaudio and a few words from Family Service of the Piedmont CEO Tom Campbell about the High Point Center for Child Wellness, which opened in 2020 at 208 Boulevard St. as the first psychiatric services center of its kind in the Piedmont.
James hopes the event will raise money for the community. She said she didn't realize how influential Delgaudio's work was on others in the furniture industry or how crucial witnessing fashion shows were to his designs until she talked with his widow, Julie, who told her everyone who came through to pay their respects said the same thing about him being a mentor.
"Everyone loves color and fashion for our fabrics and for our furniture industry as well," James said. "I had to honor this man's wishes."
A raffle will be held during the event for a chance to win art from Windy O'Connor, jewelry from Simon Jewelers and a leather bag from Monkee's. Raffle tickets can be purchased at either Allen & James' or Monkee's retail spaces, websites or instagram links. Tickets are $75 for the evening, which includes food, beverage and the fashion show. Doors will open at 6 p.m. for a social hour, with the show beginning at 7 p.m. and ending at 8 p.m.
cingram@hpenews.com — 336-888-3534 — @HPEcinde
