Stories

July 18, 2024 | Third Thursday Thoughts
Dawn LaRochelle, Executive Director

My earliest memory is of me at age 2 ½, kicking and screaming and throwing a full-blown temper tantrum because my parents, who were taking me to a friend’s birthday party, wanted me to wear the pink romper, but I wanted to wear the red polka dot dress. The years and decades have changed, but the girl remains the same (just ask my husband when I pack for a “simple,” ahem, weekend getaway). What can I say – I like what I like!

Really, though, there’s more to it than that. Even those of us who skipped the diva toddler stage make countless choices about what to wear from the moment we wake up to the time we go to bed. These choices are not arbitrary. On the contrary, they are deeply rooted in our psychology and play a significant role in how we perceive ourselves and how others perceive us.

Clothes can be the difference in a good day, and they can be the difference in a bad day. They can give us the confidence to nail a major presentation or feel uncomfortable in our own skin. We can make strangers smile, we can initiate conversations, we can honor our roots, and we can challenge societal norms with our outfits and accessories. Whether it’s through bold and vibrant colors, minimalist and sleek designs, or eclectic and unconventional combinations, our choice of attire says a lot about who we are and who we aspire to be. And as the seasons of our life change and we change with them, so, too, can our style evolve.

Case in point: much to my chagrin, I can’t wear earrings – even the lightest ones make my ears throb in pain – so to make up for it, I gravitate toward oversized statement necklaces and bracelets and have developed quite the collection of blingy rhinestone Art Deco pieces. But with antisemitism spiking online, domestically, and around the world, I have found myself leaning more into my Jewishness with Magen David jewelry. While everyone needs to make their own choices in these scary times, I draw strength from unapologetically embracing and displaying my heritage. Of course, there’s also the Susan Alexandra “oy vey” necklace because… life!

We all have the power to write our own stories with the items hanging in our closets, folded in our dresser drawers, strewn on chairs, and stuffed into suitcases. It is these stories – the stories we wear – that are at the heart of Fashion, Food, and Fun(d)raiser: A Celebration of Our Diverse Community, back by popular demand for the second year in a row on Thursday, August 8, 5:30 PM – 8:30 PM. Our Museum mandate calls for building on the Maine Jewish immigrant experience to foster appreciation and understanding among people of all backgrounds, and our Jewish core is a springboard for broader outreach. In alignment with this mission, the Fashion Show shines the spotlight on Maine Jewish, immigrant, BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, and differently abled designers and models. Over a dozen nationalities will be represented in our runway show, yet the stories our models will wear break boundaries of time, culture, and language to connect us at the most fundamental level – something more important now than ever as hatred and division threatens to split our country apart.

To quote Neil Gaiman, “The gulf that exists between us people is that when we look at each other, we might see faces, skin color, gender, race, or attitudes, but we don’t see, we can’t see the stories. And once we hear each other’s stories, we realize that the things we see as dividing us are, too often, illusions, falsehoods: that the walls between us are in truth no thicker than scenery.” In this spirit, I invite you to join us for an unforgettable celebration of stories, unity, and connection (don’t wait to order your tickets – we are almost sold out!).

Warmly,

Dawn

Dawn LaRochelle

Executive Director

P.S. The runway show will be amplified by a sumptuous cocktail and small plates hour, live music by the multinational and multigenerational Bondeko, an exciting live auction, and a decadent dessert display for a grand finale and sweet ending. There will also be a “mystery” Keynote Speaker
(my lips are sealed – you’ll have to attend to be in on the secret!) who will blow your mind!