This week’s Retailer Spotlight shines on Colonial Jewelers for its “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” Holly Golightly lookalike contest, which raised $12,000 for the Hur­witz Breast Can­cer Fun.

Key West has its Ernest Hemingway lookalike contests, but
Colonial Jewelers in Frederick, Md., has just upped the ante in the world
of celebrity doppelgangers by establishing itself as the Audrey
Hepburn lookalike capital of the world. Official word came in just after the
Memorial Day weekend that store owners Jeff and Patty Hurwitz earned a place in the Guinness Book of World Records for “The Largest Gathering of
Holly Golightly Look-alikes”—referring to the legendary character played by
Hepburn in the 1961 film Breakfast at
Tiffany’s.

Last Thursday marked the second annual lookalike contest/fundraiser for
Colonial Jewelers. From April 15 to the day of the event, May 26, contestants
could stop by the store to pick up their “kit bags,” which contained accessories
that Hepburn’s character was known for in the movie (dark sunglasses, a
long-stem cigarette holder, a tiara, “pearl” earrings and necklaces, and elbow-length gloves), as well as coupon books for free or discount food and drinks
at the 17 participating area restaurants and bars.  

Kit bags were the main source of fundraising for the event.
General admission kit bags were priced at $35 for returning Holly Golightly
lookalikes only. First-time general admission kits for this year’s contest were
priced at $65, with VIP kits costing $95. “We went out of our way to make the
kit bags really special with good quality items,” says
Patty.

Melissa Callan was crowned Colonial Jewelers’ Holly Golightly 2011. (Photo courtesy of Craig Shipp)

The event started at 6 p.m. at Colonial Jewelers where
contestants were treated to wine and light snacks. Then the trail of lookalikes
walked the red carpet to the Weinberg Center for an 8 p.m. showing of the film.
During intermission, the 300 lookalikes gathered to see who would be crowned
Holly Golightly 2011.

In the end, it was customer Melissa Callan who earned the title.
“She was crowned that evening and we gave her a Debbie Banks purse and a
plaque,” says Patty.

Colonial Jewelers co-sponsored the event with Weinberg Center for the Arts and Someone With, a
local Web-based business that specializes in accessories for cancer patients.

“Next year, we plan to do a Marilyn Monroe ‘Diamonds Are a
Girl’s Best Friend’ [Gentlemen Prefer Blondes] event,” says Patty. “The kit will include the platinum blonde wig, and of course, ‘diamonds.’”

JCK