Sweet William hosts outdoor celebration to thank customers, mark 35th anniversary
Professional models showed off a variety of fall and winter looks at an outdoor fashion show Sweet William hosted last week. Founder Marlene Burton (in orange), and current owner Kristi Smith enjoyed celebrating the shop's 35th anniversary. (Jim Slonoff photos)
Kristi Smith, owner of Sweet William in downtown Hinsdale, spent a lot of time on her phone last Tuesday as the rain continued to fall.
"I kept checking the weather. Every hour that I looked at the weather, it still said sunshine the following day," she said.
The forecast didn't lie - and the weather was beautiful for the outdoor fashion show Smith and her staff hosted for customers Sept. 25 on Village Place.
"We pulled it all together and it turned out remarkably well. I never realized how beautiful that alley was until you don't see any cars on it, you decorate it with your tables, your red carpet," Smith said. "It just looked gorgeous."
Sweet William has been conducting fashion shows to raise money for Scoreboard Charities for about five years. Smith said that experience and her frequent travels to New York inspired her to host a fashion show to thank customers.
"It just gave me the fever to throw more fashion shows," she said. "I just wanted to bring that to our customers, because they don't get to go to fashion shows and see all these things. I just wanted to bring that New York-style fashion show home."
Seven professional models showcased 14 fall and winter looks, ranging from edgy street wear to formal gowns with pailette sequins. The dress code for attendees was "Sweet William chic," Smith said.
"We were so pleased with the turnout," Smith said, noting 125 customers attended the event. "Everyone was dressed in their best. It was just so fun to see our customers meeting each other for the first time."
A DJ kept attendees entertained with music, and they also enjoyed a stilt walker dressed in all white and accessorized with glow-in-the-dark angel wings.
"He just walked around and added to the atmosphere. He was such a hit," Smith said.
Guests also enjoyed food catered by Guiliano's and were given Moet mini Champagne bottles engraved with Sweet William's logo to toast.
"We all cheered to 35 years. It was just great. It was truly magical," Smith said.
Smith, who started working at Sweet William 20 years ago, purchased the business in 2014 from founder Marlene Burton.
"She really set the path, because she created the store from scratch 35 years ago," Smith said. "I've just been very fortunate to get to step into her shoes and carry on the legacy that she created."
Smith said the store is about more than selling clothes.
"It's about how we make them feel at their special occasion or on their vacation. Everybody feels better and more confident when they look better," she said.
Smith said she was pleased to be able to entertain customers at the event.
"We really did this fashion show and the event for our customers," she said. "We just wanted to say how grateful we are to them for being so loyal to us and for their friendship."
