BFF - Luncheon 10/11/23

Guest Speaker: Yolanda Cellucci
Fashion Icon and Philanthropist
 
Age is just a number to Yolanda Cellucci. At 88 years old, she hosts her own cable access show, just published a book on her life, and recently published the first of a series of children's books. For nearly five decades, Yolanda Cellucci has been a glamorous fixture of the Boston fashion industry. A self-made woman and business power house, Yolanda began her career in 1967 selling wigs to cancer and head-injury patients.  In 1968, she opened her bridal store, “Yolanda” in Waltham.
 
Yolanda’s bridal boutique flourished, growing to include a restaurant, health club, swimming pool, limousine service, hair salon, manicures, facials, massages, and a fashion selection suited for all women. The chief mission of Yolanda and her business was to “help every woman feel like a real woman”, focusing on their wedding and a majority of the parts that go along with it.
 
Yolanda’s huge boutique thrived for 41 years until closing its doors in 2009, but Cellucci’s passion for empowering women did not stop there. Throughout her entire life, Yolanda has been a massive philanthropist, raising and donating large sums of money to a variety of charities through beautiful gala events hosted by Yolanda herself. Her over the top costumes were a staple at any one of her events.
 
The clothes and costumes worn by this “Goddess of Glitz” are just the tip of the sparkly iceberg, for it was through fashion that Yolanda changed not only her own life, but the lives of others.