A Night of Timeless Elegance: Kick-Starting The Salvation Army’s Tree of Lights Campaign
"Reimagine: Timeless Elegance in Black and White" photographs by Adrian Tatum.
The grandeur of The Sheldon Concert Hall and Art Galleries in St. Louis was filled with style, grace, and a spirit of giving on Friday, October 20th, as The Salvation Army hosted “Reimagine: Timeless Elegance in Black and White,” the inaugural event of this year’s Tree of Lights campaign. (Event pictures: Click Here)
The theme of the night celebrated the elegance of black and white fashion, with local St. Louis-based designers showcasing their talents and creativity. The Reimagine Fashion Show became a platform for these artists to reinterpret style across decades, creating stunning runway looks that captivated the audience.
Major corporate sponsors including TARLTON, CASS Information Systems, and Margaret and Gordon Finley played a pivotal role in bringing this event to life. The community also showed robust support with sponsorships from Jim Hoffmeister, Papa Johns, and The St. Louis Cardinals, all united in the cause to raise funds for The Salvation Army’s mission and community programs. The Vault Luxury Resale kindly donated a beautiful Louis Vuitton bag which was won by a lucky attendee.
The Tree of Lights campaign, now in its 76th year, has set an ambitious goal of $7.2 million for this season. Campaign co-chairs, baseball legend Ozzie Smith and community leader Yolonda Lankford, shared their excitement and commitment to the cause.
Yolonda Lankford attended Reimagine and shared her enthusiasm for the evening and the Tree of Lights campaign: “It’s an honor to co-chair the Tree of Lights campaign. Ozzie and I have a great deal of love for The Salvation Army, and we are proud to champion this campaign at every opportunity. Reimagine is an incredible event! It’s a joy to see so many talented designers and models showcasing their talents tonight. What a wonderful celebration of community!” said Yolonda.
The Reimagine Fashion Show not only celebrated fashion but also recognized the artistic talents of the designers. 13 highly talented designers showcased their creations at Reimagine, providing a high-quality exhibition of St. Louis’ cultural community, and weaving together the threads of community, culture and compassion that our community is known for.
Fashion show judges included Susan Sherman (Co-founder of STL Fashion Fund), Jeff and Mary Clarke (Mother Model Management) and Matthew Anderson (MANGO).
Calvin Johnson clinched the 1st Place with his innovative designs, worn by models Reggie Keys and Nakhea Snow. Celeste Grayer and Yasi Fayal were awarded 2nd and 3rd places, respectively.
The Salvation Army’s Tree of Lights campaign is more than just a fundraiser; it is a community coming together to support one another. The success of “Reimagine: Timeless Elegance in Black and White” has set a positive and vibrant tone for the rest of the campaign, as St. Louisians unite to light up lives and make a difference in their community.
To learn more about the Tree of Lights campaign or to donate, click here. View more pictures of the night's fashion show event, click here.
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