Out & About: WSO supporters are 'Cheap 'N Chic' after shopping spree

The Cheap ‘N Chic shopping benefit, held Sept. 26 in the Greensburg Garden and Civic Center, accomplished two purposes.

First, it raised money for the Westmoreland Symphony Orchestra. Second (some might put this first), it helped a roomful of thrifty fashionistas to look good on a budget.

“This is the only way I’ll ever get a Coach bag,” said successful shopper Joanna Stillwagon.

The donated luxury goods included bags not just from Coach, but also from Balenciaga, Escada, Fendi and Yves Saint Lauren. From Armani to Tahari, there was trendy outerwear, along with vintage furs, vintage and antique jewelry, hats, other accessories and more.

Champagne, heavy hors d’oeuvres and desserts also were donated.

Event co-chair Jill Briercheck lauded the generosity of symphony supporters for the success of the biennial event.

“Everything was donated, there was no cost to the symphony — of course, we have no friends left,” she joked about the process of soliciting those donations.

“This is unbelievable,” co-chair Jo Ellen Numerick said of the turnout. “I think we’re going to break some records tonight.”

Ticket sales topped $4,000 before the doors even opened, Briercheck said, all straight profit for the symphony, which opens its 2019-20 season Oct. 12 in Greensburg’s Palace Theatre with “Russian Masters.”

Some goods left over from Cheap ‘N Chic go to consignment stores, with hopes that further sales will add to the symphony’s coffers. The rest goes to charitable thrift stores.

Cheap ‘N Chic committee members included Joan Stairs, Carol Zera, Linda Blum, Jeanne Adams, George Shaner and Michael Philopena, along with the symphony’s event chair Linda Assard.

WSO violinist Ramona Coppage and her student Leah Howard provided music.

Seen: WSO executive director Endy Reindl, board president Michael Matteo, board member Barry Numerick, Molly Robb Shimko, Diane Nickoloff, Mary Lou Hugus, Jan Taylor-Condo, Kaaren Tintori, Sally Loughran, Michaelene McWhinney, Tara Pezze, Jody Schmitt, Karen Peltier, Mary Ann DeAngelo, Teri Bowes, Phyllis Kluska, Lisa Black, Sarah Deemer, Anne Kraybill, Jill Strittmatter, Cheryl Wood, Michele Bononi, Anne-Marie Welty, Suzanne Ward and Bobbi Debord.