Megan Scott BB Reporter

When Judy Elton, an employee at the Community Center for Vital Aging, thought up the idea of the Timeless Style: Senior Style Show, she wasted no time giving Ball State's family and consumer science department a call to enlist the help of students and faculty.

The idea for Timeless Style is to show that any age can be beautiful.  Audrey Robbins professor in the family and consumer sciences department, was more than happy to present the idea to her fashion promotions class and get her students involved with working with the senior citizens. "I think this show is so great because it's a merge between Ball State students and the Muncie community," Robbins said. "A lot of students don't get involved with the community and the residents see students here in fall and winter, and then it kind of dies down in summer, but they don't really interact with them."

Robbins was excited about adding that she has seen some of the students and elderly adults become friends.  "Some of them go out to dinner together," Robbins said, "and there's an older woman that has had a boyfriend for 30 years and now she's talking to a college student who's been dating her boyfriend for a few years."

Model Hazel Poole agreed that she really enjoyed shopping with two of Ball State's students.  "My girls were great, Brittany (Rickord) and Nicole (Poletika)," Poole said.  "I just let them have there way, it was a learning experience for them, so I just figured if the teacher's grading, I hope it's good."

"Hazel was a lot of fun," said Rickord.  "She was willing to try on anything and had a great heart and a fun spirit."

The oldest of all the models was Martha Adams, 91.  Senior fashion merchandising major Steffanie Nowak said she had fun shopping with Adams and learning what her wants and needs were as a senior citizen consumer.  Nowak also included that she believes this fashion show will help her in her future, having given her the experience to not only work with young people, but now she understands what older men and women look for  when they shop for clothing.

The 18 models all between the ages of 50 and 91 years old were paired up with 25 fashion merchandising majors for fashion advice and shopping at Kohl's, Elder-Beerman or Catherines.

Elton adds that the participation of Ball State students and faculty was great:  25 fashion merchandising students, two telecommunications students and two professors  got involved to help.  Elton and Robbins both mentioned that they hope this style show can continue to be an annual event and they're hoping that next year students will be right up there modeling with the senior citizens.

The show took place Friday night at the Cornerstone Center for the arts and was opened by Muncie Mayor Sharon McShurley.