Orlando's original Fashionista Diva is opening her closet to support local charities.
Harriett Lake is also one of Central Florida's most generous philanthropists. She's selling pieces from her extensive wardrobe to raise money for Orlando Ballet, the Foundation for Foster Children and Harriett's Boutique for cancer survivors at Orlando Health.
How big could the closet be? Well it's actually a warehouse in Longwood. Up for sale is 5,000 items, from dresses to shoes to jewelry. The items span decades of fashion and include designers and clothing companies as varied as Oscar de la Renta, Louis Vuitton and Costco. Prices on items range from $2 to more than $4,000.
"We found high-level designers, some Giorgio Armani, some Chanel, some obscure designers like Patrick Kelly and Romeo Gigli," said Paige Blackwelder, the Tuni co-owner who was asked to help run the sale. "And then we found some ordinary designers."
Blackwelder said she and her crew found all kinds of clothes in all sizes. That's because if Harriet Lake likes something, she buys it, no matter the size. Sometimes she got the clothes altered, and sometimes she didn't.
"Wear comfortable shoes, prepare to stay a while because there's a lot here to see," Blackwelder said. "And come out and see what Harriet loved."
Lake, 92, is not selling everything. She has about a thousand pieces in her enormous closet at home -- on dry cleaner-style conveyor belts. News 13's Jackie Brockington interviewed Lake and got a look inside that giant closet last July. Brockington spoke with Lake Thursday and said she sounded just as chipper and excited as ever.
Harriett's Closet Warehouse Sale is at 902 Waterway Place in Longwood. The sale is open every day except Monday, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. through Nov. 21.