Even before it takes place, it’s safe to say that some people are going to arrive at Western Fantasy on gossamer wings. Or, to be precise, they’ll be in Gossamer Wings, a line of exquisitely crafted party clothes inspired by the American Southwest.
How do we know? Because charge cards and cash registers were getting quite a workout at Neiman Marcus Cherry Creek the night Barbara Grimes, the founder and chief executive of Gossamer Wings, came in from Santa Fe to present the fancy suedes, leathers, shearling and denim pieces at a fashion show that was part of the Western Fantasy patron party.
Gail Johnson and Sharon Whiton Gelt organized the thank-you fete; banker Jay Davidson and his wife, Kristina, are chairing the Oct. 22 benefit for Volunteers of America.
“Barbara’s outfits are works of art,” said store manager Christel Dikeman, a member of the Western Fantasy steering committee. Her clients, Dikeman added, include the 2005 headliner, Lee Greenwood, Tanya Tucker, Emmy Lou Harris, Travis Tritt and Randy Travis, the star of the show in 2004.
In addition to the fashion show, the 150 patron party guests were treated to an Epicurean Catering buffet supper and a preview of the six items to be auctioned at the benefit. They include Pat and Annabel Bowlen’s annual donation of a trip for two to the Super Bowl; a 2005 Nissan Sentra donated by auto dealers Matt and Sean Tynan and Mile High United Way chief Mike Durkin; and a seven-day Caribbean cruise aboard a SeaDream yacht.
Patron party guests included the founders of Western Fantasy, Jean Galloway and Sharon Magness Blake; Barbara Grogan, chairman of the VOA-Colorado board; Herminia Vigil, president of the Volunteers of America Guild; and WB2 News’ Asha Blake, who’ll emcee Western Fantasy with her co-anchor on the 9 o’clock news, Ernie Bjorkman.
Others joining in the fun were Stars & Spurs ticket committee chairs Adrienne and Jack Fitzgibbons and Sandee and Aaron LaPedis; Elizabeth Byrnes Crony, who is heading the Young Professionals committee with Krista and Dr. Gregory Buford; Qwest executive Chris Chavez and his wife, Jennifer; Tom Allee of Frontier Airlines; Grayson Walden and Craig Andrisen; Bonnie Mandarich, whose husband, Richmond American Homes chief David Mandarich, is on the corporate committee that is headed by Bill McCallum (Great West Life) and Jeff Potter (Frontier Airlines); Denver City Councilman Charlie Brown; Phyllis Coors and Dave Graebel; Luella Chavez D’Angelo of the First Data/Western Union Foundation; Steve and Wendy Weil of Rockmount Ranch Wear; Vickie Dow; attorney KC Veio and his wife, Kristina; Wanda Fanning; Lynne Hamstra and Steve Ramsford; Artemis Khadiwala-Donian; Cindi and Keith Burge; Carol and Brad James; Tangy Buchanan; Kathryn and Jim Kaiser; Laren Nai-
man; Susan and Carl Barnhill; Steve Edmonds; Louise Richardson; Andrea and Phillip Gray; Debbie Gradishar; former event chairs Arlene and Barry Hirschfeld; and Steve Rosdal, whose Hyde Park Jewelers is donating all sorts of pretty things for Western Fantasy’s pre-dinner Panning for Gold booth.
Society editor Joanne Davidson can be reached at 303-809-1314 or jmdpost@aol.com.
