BALDWYN – Bright colored dresses, fancy hats and plenty of treats made for a fun and festive atmosphere at Baldwyn’s first spring tea party and fashion show on Sunday.
Participants at the sold-out event enjoyed great food, music and models wearing fashions from boutiques in Baldwyn. There were even princesses on hand as well.
Debbie Gentry brought her granddaughters to the event and came away pleased with the inaugural event.
“It was a wonderful time. My girls loved every second of it,” Gentry said. “The food was great and the decorations were wonderful. My girls were just in awe. It was great for the town, too, to promote the businesses and I think everybody had a wonderful time.”
Paper Moon Clothing owner Phyllis Robinson said the idea sprang forth from a similar event she spearheaded while she was in business in Tupelo, and it was met with similar success, drawing acclaim even from Mississippi Magazine. She said she wanted to do something similar here now that her business is in Baldwyn. She had originally thought about using the event to promote just her business, but that idea quickly grew into something much bigger.
“I always give back to my community, and that was my mindset here,” Robinson said. “I thought, ‘why don’t I get the other businesses involved?’ We had a retail meeting and it took off.”
She said having the combined efforts of fellow retailers and businesses in town, as well as the Baldwyn Main Street Chamber, made the event the success it was. And that was the purpose of the event – to draw attention to Baldwyn.
“It was to highlight our town,” Robinson said.
That, it did well.
“It was so exciting,” said Jenni Kate Scott, of Three Eleven boutique. “I love that Baldwyn had this to offer this year because I think it got a lot of people in to see the town.”
Paden Bell, of County Line Music and who helped set up the sound for the event, liked that it gave his daughters a fun event to attend.
“I thought it was awesome. Mrs. Phyllis and Andrea did a great job. It was very well done. My girls really enjoyed it and really liked seeing the princesses in town.”
The show featured clothing worn by area models. Stores participating in the event included Paper Moon, Southern Charm, Three Eleven, Queens’ Quarters, M.A.G.S., and This Little Light of Mine. Hope Jones and Fill My Cup provided catering services, while Susan’s Flowers provided flowers.
A special treat for the attendees was that each one got to go home with a tea cup set, bought and purchased for the event by Mark D. McAlister of Mc Events and Interiors of Nashville. McAlister is in the process of setting up a storefront in Baldwyn.
