DEFINITELY IN STYLE: ANNUAL ZONTA FASHION SHOW RAISES MONEY FOR LOCAL CHARITIES

The newest fall fashions will be on display at the 1991 Zonta Fashion Show, planned for Aug. 27 at the Show Me Center.

This year's theme is "Welcome Back to Class."

Mary Foote, co-chairman of the event said the Zonta Club hopes to raise $10,000 from the show. All funds raised will be donated to area charitable foundations, she said.

"It's really a full evening of entertainment," Foote said. "There are different segments, including career wear, children's wear, outer wear and sportswear."

The show is in its 13th year, and each year, more and more people attend, Foote said. In previous years it was held at the Holiday Inn Convention Center, and before that, at Drury Lodge.

Foote said the show was moved to the Show Me Center to accommodate the larger crowds.

"Every seat in the house will be a good one," she said.

"Last year, we had about 700 people attend," she said. "But the money is really raised by the donations and raffle items."

There will be more than 50 donated items raffled, plus a custom-made piece of jewelry donated by C.P. McGinty Jewelers.

The Zonta Club is a women's service organization that funds local charities such as Habitat for Humanity, the Make A Wish Foundation, Vision 2000, the American Red Cross, Easter Seals Society, the Girl Scouts of America and others. It also funds scholarships at Southeast Missouri State University, Foote said.

"We try to raise as much money as we can, and the bottom line is putting it back into the community," she said.

Members of the Zonta Club will model the clothes, as well as people selected by participating stores, she said.

Fashions will be featured from local retailers, including Hartford's, Howard's, Ben's, The Body Shoppe, Hechts, Children's Bazaar, All American Kids and Warehouse of Leathers.

Corporate sponsors for this year's show are River Eagle Distributing, Boatmen's Bank and Rust & Martin. Foote said this is the first year the show has had corporate sponsors.

Doors open at 6 p.m. and the 2-hour show begins at 7:15, Foote said.

Tickets are available at all participating merchants. General admission tickets are $12 and include a light buffet meal. Patron seating is $35, which includes a pre-show cocktail party and reserved table seating.