Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley
Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley
Mid-century fashion will be on the runway at Royal Block on Saturday, May 20
From left to right, Florence and Mel Buttice, Edna and Rod Thomas, and Geraine and Jim Hansen dressed up for a night out.
Geraine and her daughter Cheryl on Mother's Day.
Visiting friends having fun trying on Geraine's beautiful clothes from the 60s and 70s. Back row, left to right, Lesli Pintor, Arizona; Cheryl Hansen, Washington; Kim Bennett, Arizona (originally from Walla Walla); Anne Abbe, Minnesota; Susan Welz, Wisconsin; Darien Sterling, California. Geraine Hansen in front in August 22, 2021.
Hawaii 1977, Hawaiian luau guy, Geraine Hansen, Jim Hansen (Royal Block owners, Tiina and Joe will model these outfits), Jeanette Hansen (Becky Huwe will model Jenaette's dress) Cheryl Hansen, and Mary Hansen.
Kim Bennett wearing one of the more patriotic outfits from the collection. Humorously, the family refers to the outfit as the republican suit. The suit is from the 60s or 70s and the shoes are from 1940s.
Cheryl wearing one of the gowns at the family farm.
WAITSBURG-Royal Block will host the 'Hansen House Couture Collection' fashion show featuring Waitsburg farming matriarch Geraine Hansen's collection of 45 global and local fashions from the 60s and 70s. The show is a celebration of her glamorous style and to her 100th birthday.
Cheryl Hansen, has curated a runway show from her mother's well appointed closet. She asked friends, family, and community members to participate as models, bringing these mid-century styles to life.
In the 1970s, Geraine Hansen and her friend Doris Huffman belonged to Waitsburg's service organization, DeNOVA Club. When they weren't clubbing together, they took their husbands dancing, out for dinner, and played lots of cards at each other's homes. Another pastime these long-time friends shared was trading clothes and shoes, as they wore the same size and were the same height.
Jim and Geraine Hansen traveled to more than 57 countries over 17 years to study farming practices worldwide. Along the way, Geraine had dresses made to add to her collection.
Doris' daughter Deanna Huffman Tipton and husband Dave visited Geraine and daughter Cheryl on the family farm a few months ago and reminisced about the early days of Doris and Geraine sharing clothes. That is when the idea for a fashion show came up.
Not that this is the first time the clothes have been modeled. Gerlaine would model dresses for her husband, Jim, who would delight in their shopping trips. Last year, Cheryl and some of her friends from college raided the closets to try on her mother's fashions. Now, the models for the upcoming show have been trying on outfits as they prepare for Saturday's show
"One lesson I've learned watching the models trying on the clothes was how blown away they were by how beautiful they felt. We never dress up like this. My mom wore some of these pantsuits to club meetings, school events, and everyday activities," said Cheryl.
Deanna Huffman Tipton recently moved back to Waitsburg and will emcee the event wearing one of Geraine's dresses.
Hansen House Couture Collection on Saturday, May 20, from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Royal Block. Open to the public, free of charge.
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