Sandra Stillwell Presents... Eternal Style


Event is SOLD OUT!
You can sign up for the wait list by emailing Sandra at

Hello, Friends!
Goodness -- how time flies!

It seems only yesterday that we were welcoming 2017 with the exciting announcement about Richmond -- and here it is...almost April!!!

This has been an amazingly busy and demanding year for me, with lots of "life" adjustments -- but, despite a crazy schedule, I've been able to fit in a couple of important trips for research and to source some FABULOUS fabrics and other surprises for our "Eternal Style" convention!

I can barely wait to share details -- but first must say "THANKS!" to each of you -- not only for your patience and understanding regarding my recent adjustments and shipping delays --  but also for your continued support and help in setting two important Sandra Stillwell Presents "milestones"...

You've made 2016's Belle of New Orleans a record breaking year for orders AND set a new RSVP record for 2017's Eternal Style -- which filled and went to "waitlist" in record time!

And now,  in celebration of the fashion icon who once said, "Fashion is like a party" and "Fashions fade, style is eternal"...

I'm proud to get this "fashionable" party started...

If you are have received this email, YOU are on the RSVP list and can now register for

Sandra Stillwell Presents: Eternal Style!
August 24th - 27th

Our Theme --
Yes...you guessed it!
Our "Eternal Style" convention will pay tribute to Yves Saint Laurent, the acclaimed fashion designer who, as a young teenager, began his iconic career designing his first "collection" for paperdolls -- only to find himself at the age of nineteen, working as an assistant in the most prestigious atelier in the world: The House of Dior, graduating to head the celebrated firm at the tender age of twenty-one and ultimately opening a world renowned fashion house under his own brand, YSL.

We will explore Yves Saint Laurent's landmark introductions with "twists" to women's fashion and his unique style, equally at home through all eras....

The cornerstone of our "Eternal Style" convention will be our group tour of the fabulous exhibit, Yves Saint Laurent: The Perfection of Style, at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. Showcasing over 100 garments from the legendary couturier's forty-four year career, this visually rich exhibition is a journey from the iconic designer's paper doll collection to his days at Dior -- through his groundbreaking designs of the 60's and 70's and his opulent fashions of the 80's and 90's, before retiring in 2002.

A tribute to Yves Saint Laurent would not be complete without also paying tribute to his iconic mentor, the legendary Christian Dior, and the fascinating story -- from his childhood home in Granville, on the sea, through his much too brief life.

In celebration of  the seventieth anniversary of Monsieur Dior's debut fashion show and landmark "New Look" collection, we will trace the history of the House of Dior, highlighting the subsequent five designers who followed Yves Saint Laurent as head of the illustrious Parisian fashion house.

No Sandra Stillwell Presents convention would be complete without some Hollywood history fun -- and
both Christian Dior and Yves Saint Laurent designed fashions for Hollywood stars in "real life" as well as on the silver screen...so we've heard whispers of a special matinee movie treat!

Convention package --
Your Eternal Style souvenir package will be an exclusive collection of Yves Saint Laurent inspired fashions  -- with the perfect twist of elegance, glamour and fun you've come to expect from "Sandra Stillwell" style!

Also included with your registration will be: 
  • Thursday evening opening dessert reception  
  • Three breakfast programs
  • One Lunch
  • Two Dinners
  • Table gifts
  • Interesting Programs and Speakers
  • Movie breaks, surprises, raffles, and lots of "eternally"  fashionable fun!
  • A visit to the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts and private tour of their Yves Saint Laurent: The Perfection of Style exhibition -- and other surprises!
But there's still more!!
You'll have first opportunity to purchase or pre-order extremely limited fashions from the Sandra Stillwell Presents: Eternal Style convention collection, including several made of the finest of French fabrics direct from Paris!
Designed to fit our favorite 16 inch "star", some of these fashions may fit other doll bodies.

You'll not want to miss a minute of all the fun and surprises we have planned, so please do plan to attend all the functions....however, if you have to miss one, please be sure to let either myself, Michael Basala, or Sherlyn Lovell know. We will do our best to keep any gifts or table gifts for you, but please understand this is not guaranteed,  

Delivery is also not guaranteed...Though we make every attempt to have the souvenir fashions available at convention, we are dependent not only on shipping, but also on factories meeting deadlines and customs passing deliveries through without hold up. In the event that any of the souvenirs are not delivered in time so that we can present them at convention, they will be mailed as soon as possible. I very much appreciate your understanding where this is concerned!

Payments and fee details --
If booked within our Sandra Stillwell Presents room block and paid in full by cash, check or money order by July 1st, the registration fee is $510. After July 1st, the fee is $560.

An additional $150 will be added to registrations booked outside of the Sandra Stillwell Presents group room block or for guests not staying at the hotel.

A $30 service fee will be added to payments other than cash, check, or money order.

A non refundable deposit of $100 will reserve your spot. Flexible payment plans can be arranged on request.

A $150 cancellation fee applies to all cancellations prior to July 1st. After that date, no refunds will  be issued.  

Companion registrations --
We always do our best to accommodate companion registrations, but because this year's convention is filled to capacity with RSVP's, we are unable to accept any companion registrations that were not requested at the time of the RSVP. However, if you would like to register a companion whom you did not name at that time, please let me know asap and, though not guaranteed, we will do our best to work with you.

Hotel information --
I'm happy to report that we will be working with the Starwood Group/Sheraton Hotels as host to our 2017 Sandra Stillwell Presents convention!

Our 2017 convention hotel is:

The Four Points by Sheraton  
9901 Midlothian Turnpike
Richmond, Va, 23235

Please contact Denise Walters 804-521-2200 for hotel reservations -- be sure to ask for the Sandra Stillwell Presents group block.

We have secured the following special group rates:
Single $134 + tax
Double - Quad $144 + tax

Each room includes complimentary parking and wi-fi.
Breakfast in the hotel restaurant is also included each day except Friday, Saturday, and Sunday -- when we will have breakfast together in our ballroom.

Located only 15 - 20 minutes from downtown area attractions and closer to others, the Midlothian Four Points is a great "home" base, conveniently situated.
In order for you to experience all the wonderful things Richmond has to offer -- and I strongly suggest you plan extra days to explore on your own --  I'm happy to say our special rate has been extended from Sunday, August 20th through Wednesday, August 30th, based on availability.  If you need additional nights other than these, please contact me.

The cut off date for reservations in our group block is August 9th, 5PM Eastern time -- however, our block is limited, so I would suggest making hotel reservations as soon as possible!  

If you have any issues with the reservations process or booking the dates you need, please don't hesitate to contact me -- I'm happy to help!

If you are planning to join us at convention but are not yet ready to make your room reservation, it would be a big help if you could please let me know what days you are planning to be there. I will be monitoring the room block closely to add necessary rooms with possible, but it always helps to have an idea of how any guests to expect each day.

Please remember that it is VERY important to book within our group block (before, during and after convention), as our room and food rates are based on meeting a  guaranteed minimum. Your room booking helps defray meeting space rental fees and other costs It's crucial that I have your cooperation with this!

Airport:
Richmond International Airport is only 23 minutes (about 20 miles) from the Four Points Midlothian.

Virginia Airlink (Bob Capehart) is offering us a special group rate of  $28.50 for shuttle transportation each way.
The van leaves every 30 minutes. For further details and to make reservations, call 804 873-0934.

For those of you driving -- there are toll booths, so I would advise having some change on hand!

Raffle Donations:
A little known fact about conventions is that registration fees never fully cover expenses, so we'll be having a raffle to help offset extra costs!
Dolls, fashions, accessories, repaints, dolly "spa" days or gift certificates... donations of all types and sizes are welcomed and greatly appreciated -- including "people" prizes your fellow collectors will personally enjoy!

We've had such phenomenal raffle tables the past few years -- and SO much fun drawing for all the "loot" -- let's make it our goal to continue the tradition and have a repeat performance this year!

If you'd like to contribute to the fun -- and help convention at the same time -- please email me!

Table seating, table gifts and special meal needs --
If you have friends you would like to sit with, please submit your request to me asap. Though we make every effort to honor seating requests, please understand that we cannot always do so. 

We realize that table gifts are a long time tradition enjoyed by many -- but they can also be a burden for some.  We do not want to interfere with any of your fun, so table gifts will be left to the discretion of each individual attendee and/or table -- but please give any such goodies in the fun spirit which they are intended and understand that not everyone will reciprocate.

Though we try to seat eight guests to a table, we may increase the number to ten as needed. If you are doing table gifts, please plan for ten -- you can give any extras to friends who aren't seated with you, or donate them to be used as door prizes!

Please let me know if you have any special food requirements -- also, please follow up right before convention to be sure your special needs have been addressed.

Optional Tours --
There are so many great things to see and do in the historic Richmond area that we're still narrowing down optional tour possibilities! We will definitely have some special activities on Thursday and Sunday -- and Wednesday, if there is enough interest.

Possibilities include (but are not limited to)

Maymont Mansion  -- https://maymont.org/

Swannanoa Palace (80 minutes away) The summer home to Maymont Mansion owners, Mr and Mrs James Dooley http://www.newsleader.com/story/life/2014/09/27/swannanoa-mysterious-mountaintop-marble-mansion/16242299/

Valentine Museum and Wickham House

The Confederacy White House Civil War Museum

Edgar Allan Poe Museum http://www.poemuseum.org/

Jefferson Hotel tour and tea (my personal favorite option for Sunday)

Virginia Capitol Building https://virginiacapitol.gov/



Historic James River Plantations http://www.jamesriverplantations.org/



I'll be making another visit  to Richmond soon to finalize tours, so if there is anything special YOU would like to see or do in the area, now is the time to contact me so I can check it out!!

Finally...before closing, I would like to share a couple of quotes from Christian Dior....

“Happiness is the secret to all beauty. There is no beauty without happiness.” ...

"It is unforgivable to do what one doesn't love, especially if one succeeds"...

I want to express my heartfelt appreciation to each of you for giving me the happiness that comes from the knowledge that I've brought you a few moments of beauty and happiness through my conventions and fashions. 

Thank you for enabling me to not only create these conventions and fashion collections, but to travel and do research and source fabrics that  I so passionately love... Sandra Stillwell Presents could not be a success without your friendships and continued support.

I look forward to celebrating our friendships, fun and fashion with you in Richmond!

Sincerely,
Sandra

502 3775153 (I often do not see texts, but feel free to call or email with questions at any time!  -- Phone calls are sometimes quicker)