Photography by Jim Prisching

The word “forward” seems to be on everyone’s lips at Gorton for 2011. So it only seems logical that the crowd-pleasing, perennial favorite, Friends of Gorton Fashion Show, follows suit.

Aptly named “Fashion Forward,” this year’s fashion show will be on the evening of Saturday, April 16, at the fast-paced venue of Lake Forest Sportscars in Lake Bluff. “Our thought was to tie in with the current attitude at Gorton, which is experiencing a new beginning and looking forward to the future,” says former chairperson of Friends of Gorton and co-chair of the event Tina Ballis, along with Lori Rozdolsky and Ada Boras. “We will be presenting fashions for the future season at a venue that embodies forward momentum.”

Sponsored for the second year by Forest & Bluff, the event promises to be a showstopper. In the past, the fashion show was a traditional luncheon and show for ladies only, but has since evolved into a couples’ night out. There will be a chance to mingle over cocktails and heavy hors d’oeuvres with carving stations—catered by Froggy’s in Highwood—and the opportunity to bid on otherwise unattainable silent auction items. The evening’s highlight will be the fashion show, featuring local designers and retailers, as friends, colleagues, and neighbors sashay down the runway.

At the conclusion of the high-energy show, the runway will be cleared to make way for a dance floor. Friends of Gorton President Liz Brandel promises that the evening will not disappoint. “We hope that the combination of an interesting venue, delicious food, up-and-coming fashion, outstanding music, and, of course, great people will result in a fantastic evening and raise a significant amount of funds for Gorton.”

Tickets for Fashion Forward can be purchased through the Gorton Community Center website at gortoncenter.org. Tickets are $100 per person for Standing Room Only, $125 per person for Reserved Seating, and $150 per person for Premium Runway Reserved Seating. Complimentary valet parking is included in the ticket price. Raffle tickets are $25 each or five for $100. For more information, call Gorton Community Center at 847-234-6060.