7th Annual Little Black Dress Event Gets A Roaring Re-Boot

LONDON, ON, September 4, 2013. It’s lucky number seven for the annual Little Black Dress Event with a theme that will give the evening a roaring re-boot. On Saturday September 21, 2013, the event will be returning to the London Music Hall at 185 Queens Ave, where organizers and volunteers will be sprinkling the newly renovated venue with some colour and charm of a bygone era captured so vividly in F. Scott Fitzgerald’s, Great Gatsby.

This year also marks the support of another local charity for the Little Black Dress Event, that charity being the Tara “Boom” Houston Children’s Foundation. Affectionately known as “Taraboom,” the foundation was established in 2003 as a living legacy to Scott and Sheri Houston’s daughter, Tara, who at the age of seven lost her fight to a terminal brain stem tumour. “Taraboom” helps to improve the lives of families whose children have been diagnosed with life threatening illnesses. “We were ecstatic to have been approached,” said Sheri. “We’re hoping the Little Black Dress Event can help us build an awareness of the Tara “Boom” Houston Children’s Foundation – who we are and what we can do.”

Armed with a rejuvenated venue and two charitable organizations, Melissa Whittle, managing partner of the event, said she’s excited for this year’s Little Black Dress. “We’ve got some great energy with this year’s event – a bigger venue, fun theme and another local charity to support,” said Whittle. “We thought with the success of the event so far, why not share the wealth if it’s going right back into our community?” The event, of course, wouldn’t have its continued success if it weren’t for the countless volunteers and support of the Nova Vita Hair & Esthetics staff, clients and friends who have stood behind the event from day one.

A portion of the proceeds will still go to the long standing charitable beneficiary of the Little Black Dress Event - Wellspring London & Region. Tickets are on sale now $40 in advance and can be purchased at Nova Vita Hair Studio & Esthetics located at 740 Richmond Street, or $50 at the door if available. For more information please visit www.littleblackdressevent.ca.

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London, ON, September 28, 2012. On Friday September 21, 2012 approximately 500 people came out to support the 6th Annual Little Black Dress Event that was held at The Music Hall located on 185 Queens Ave. All proceeds raised go to support Wellspring London and Region – a local organization that offers free programming to those affected by cancer as well as their family members and caretakers.

Being just as brave as her fight with cancer, Bekka De Mers took to the stage to tell her story sharing how “everything quickly became a blur” upon discovery and confirmation that she had cancer. “Every day I’m grateful there is another day’” said De Mers. “This journey has taught me so much. You can’t do everything on your own. It’s okay to ask for help. It’s okay to receive help. I truly believe I’ve been so blessed.” Bekka stood proud and strong as the sea of people listened to her personal journey – a journey that lead her to a new destination in her life – a life as a cancer survivor.

Emceed by Fresh FM’s Natalie Lovie (Fresh Mornings) and Toni Ross (Fresh Mid Day Host), the evening went on to consist of various entertainment with vocal performances by McKenna Langdon and Kincardine’s Brontae Hunter to dance performances by Georgia Langdon and Aspen Gallant. One of the main entertainment features of the evening was the Avant Garde fashion show – a show unlike any before in the Little Black Dress Event history – that was coordinated by the staff at Nova Vita and well received by the audience. Clothiers who sponsored the event by dressing the models, included Elizabeth Noel, Desigual, Saffron Road and Love, Poetry Corsets.

“We are very pleased to say that in our 6th year we have just surpassed the $90,000 mark of funds raised. A rather impressive amount, by our grassroots anomaly of an event,” said Melissa Whittle, owner of Twisted Pickle Small Business Emissaries and Managing Partner of the Little Black Dress Event. “To top that, we’ve been getting great feedback that this past Little Black Dress Event was our best yet. It was an uplifting sight to see the great community turn-out as well as the fun everyone was having. We know we couldn’t have done this without the volunteers and all of our sponsors.”

For more information about the Little Black Dress Event, please visit www.littleblackdressevent.ca    or contact Fran Tran at [email protected].

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Photo Credit: Mike Anstee from Henry's at the 6th Annual Little Black Dress Event