VintageNOW fashion show will take people back to the 1970s

When Deb Boyer Maevers, owner of Pastimes Antiques, came into an estate of vintage clothing, the first idea that popped into her head was to launch a fashion show. She called it VintageNOW.

The first show in 2009 was in the upper level of the now-closed Buckner Brewing Co., with about 300 people attending.

Last year, the annual fundraiser for the Safe House for Women was at the Osage Centre in Cape Girardeau, and attendance had grown to about 1,100.

The show is themed according to a chosen decade. Maevers said she was reluctant to highlight "her" era, but in the days after last year's show, people already were asking for a 1970s theme.

"Once I gave in and said, 'OK, we'll do the '70s,' it's been fun planning, and the atmosphere, not just the clothing, the room has been fun," Maevers said.

The sixth VintageNOW Fashion Show will begin at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, with doors opening at 6 p.m. at the Osage Centre.

The preshow is designed to be "mix and mingle" time. Disco balls and motion lights will fill the room to take people back in time.

"We want the atmosphere to feel like you've stepped back in time, 1975, and you are at a disco in New York or Studio 54," Maevers said.

Attendees also can bid during a silent auction.

A vote will take place between 6 and 7:30 p.m. to determine which of the male models will walk the runway first. The group of men, called peace ambassadors, includes Kevin Greaser, Eric Becking, All Bisher, Brian Gerau, Ronnie Glover, Lyle Randolph, Jeff Gremmels, Bud McMillan, Virgil Jones, Mike Rust, Kirby Ray, Wes Wade and state Sen. Wayne Wallingford. Ballot boxes -- one for each of the men and displaying a photo of him -- will greet attendees as they walk in, and they can vote for their favorites with a $1 donation.

As a part of the show's kickoff, opening-number dancers will model John Travolta's moves from "Saturday Night Fever" as the film is projected above.

Forty models will display 80 styles as they take to the runway, each changing once. The two show segments are titled "Groovy Days" and "Boogie Nights."

Leshay Mathis, a Southeast Missouri State University alumna and now an admissions counselor, is one of this year's models. The models range in age from 14 to 75, including Maevers' mother, who is 75 and has participated since the show's beginning.

Maevers participated in each model-fitting and style session, with four stylists each assigned 10 models who ultimately have the final say in what they wear.

Nicole Fouche has been a stylist for VintageNOW the past four years. She said to help find the right outfit, she looks at the model's style and applies it to the theme.

"We always try to ask them, 'Hey, do you feel comfortable wearing this? If not, we're not going to make you go out there and wear something you don't feel good in,'" Fouche said. "The show's about feeling good and being a woman and empowering them. I think if you walked out there and you didn't feel comfortable in what you're wearing, then you wouldn't be too empowered."

Fouche custom-designs dresses as a full-time job, so she's not unfamiliar with pulling trends together.

"When you're making garments, you're thinking about the entire look, so you're styling anyway," Fouche said.

Maevers said the 1970s were when a younger generation still fought to be heard. That was evident in the music and more so in the period fashion.

"I think this year feels like the most really diverse selection of clothing, but that was the era, that was the '70s, man," Maevers said, laughing, and noting fashion trends tends to repeat themselves every 30 to 35 years.

"With a twist," she added.

Wide-leg, bell bottom-inspired pants, fringe and beaded garments line store racks today. Several local retailers -- The Buckle, Stash, Philanthropy and Ophelia -- provided pieces to complement the show's vintage clothing.

"It fits in with the trends you're going to see today, so at least people know when they come to the show, they're going to be able to see something they could probably go to a thrift store and buy and put together with their modern pieces," Fouche said.

Proceeds from VintageNOW benefit the Safe House for Women.

For Maevers, the event was never really about the clothes. It was about the women wearing them, and the women they're wearing them for.

"In our fashion show, all of our models are mostly local women and all ages, all sizes. That's important to me," Maevers said. "And also, that we show the audience that every woman's beautiful. Every woman who walks, I kind of do a little pep talk when I go backstage, like a football coach, I guess, similar to a ballgame, is just tell these ladies, 'Remember, you're walking for a woman from the Safe House; you're walking for someone. Be strong, be confident, because you're walking for someone who can't.'"