Bryant Park comes to Monterey in Long Beach

Last Thursday, April 29, felt like New York fashion week at Bryant Park during the Long Beach Chamber of Commerce’s first fashion show at Monterey on West Park Avenue, featuring clothes by Rose & Eye, a woman’s boutique in the West End.

Each season, Rose & Eye continues to attract faithful shoppers with their hip trends at great prices. As this season’s first fashion show in Long Beach’s business district, many people collaborate to put together such a successful event that attracted a packed crowd.

The chamber intended the show to be a summer kick-off party for the community. Warren Vegh, chamber executive director, created an opportunity for owners Michael Muratore and Stefano Malluzzo to showcase Rose & Eye’s latest threads.

“We are becoming more involved with community events,” Vegh said, referring to his involvement with the show, which offered free gift bags and raffles. “There is no admission [cost], the models all volunteered, and the raffles are free. Rose & Eye applied, and we brought the event to Monterey to kick off the summer.”

Hair and makeup were also volunteered. Makeup was completed by Doll Face with bright, fun colors to match the Long Beach feel. Hair was structured by The Station for Hair to fit each particular theme of the clothing, which was broken up into six inspirations.

The twenty models of diverse ages were all customers who volunteered to walk the runway, showcasing the different segments of clothing. Among them were “hot colors” in anticipation of the warm weather ahead, to floral prints or “flower power,” and the women showed off the looks with poise and parasols in-tow.

Dressing the models backstage was fashion intern Crystal Alexander from Franklin Square. Her talent for putting looks together and calm demeanor amidst the chaotic atmosphere appeared to be an asset to the show. “Any good piece of art takes time and work; this fashion show is Rose & Eye’s masterpiece, and I am proud to be contributing to that,” Alexander said.

Monterey was filled with avid Rose & Eye shoppers, as well as other fashion enthusiasts. The show was accompanied by a peppy emcee, dance music, free hors d’oeuvres, and reduced priced drinks. The runway was lit by colorful lights and the flat screens showed models doing their best impersonations of Heidi Klum. The gift bags were filled with jewelry, perfume and a T-shirt sporting the Rose & Eye logo.

“Customers tell me they can go to the mall and not find anything; they come into Rose & Eye and find everything they need,” Muratore said about his store, which affordably features everything from sun dresses to swimwear. “It’s a give back for us. We started a business at a difficult economic time; the community has truly supported us and I want to be able to say thank you.”

Vegh was pleased with the standing-room-only turn out and vows to host more fashion shows. “Everybody had a smile on their face, even the people who had to stand,” Vegh said. “Events like this can only bring the community closer together, raise spirits, and that’s what we are all about.”

Comments about this story? JKellard@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 213.