On the Town: High tea, low fashion prices, big hats

The Queen of England has nothing on Glendale's Assistance League. The League created high tea in its Chapter House on April 17. Members and guests, all looking like very queenly, were encouraged to wear hats to tea. All that was missing were the white gloves and fascinators. Event Chairman Mary McVay royally conducted her Tea Committee to put on one of the League's most popular events of the year, the Queen's Jubilee Tea.

Other event chairmen were Mary Lo Follett, in charge of reservations; Anne Wilson, who as treasurer, handled the $20 admission fees; Sylvia Kowal crafted the place card calligraphy; Sally Benson made the 22 centerpieces of spring flowers and Margaret Hammond (chapeau and all) played traffic cop in the parking lot.

Tea sandwiches, fruit tarts and tea in delicate teapots with porcelain cups and saucers to match was served. Mary Margaret Smith brought her own tea set for her table. After tea, a fashion show of clothes from the League's Thrift Alley were modeled. And the price tags were strictly low class.

League member models dolled up to show that, yes, you could dress like a queen for a few pounds, shillings or pence. A soft ivory shell from Chico's, for instance, could be purchased at Thrift Alley for $3.

In fact, as soon as it was shed in the models' dressing room, the shell was snapped up by an enthusiastic customer. Also available were Kate Spade shoes going for a mere $25.

Each of the 10 member models walked the runway twice. Always the jokester, Bea Wojtyla showed off her very fashionable red tennis shoes on one of her turns.

But it was Smith who brought down the house. Just as her audience of 106 supporters thought that only her granny-like robe was on display, Smith stripped down to flowered, baby doll pajamas.

The pj's well-covered all the necessities but showed off Smith's glamorous gams.

Other models were League President Alma Tycer, Immediate Past President and Thrift Alley Chairman Jean Peacock and members Rita Burns, Carol Eldred, Lina Harper, Kowal, Betty Musacco and Pat Spencer.

Fashion show coordinator was Karen Millman. She worked with fashion commentator Marcie Haug and assistant Rita Turkmany.

Family groups present included Glendale resident and League member Ann Chadney with her aunt Ruth Scholla from La Crescenta. Longtime Glendale resident Dorothy Powell was there with daughter Shelly Powell-Detweiler from Laguna. Another pairing of mother and daughter were Glendale residents Ruth Moore and Karin Jonke.