The Jefferson City Council of Clubs will have 22 models featuring the latest style trends from a handful of local clothing and accessory hot spots during its 32nd annual Fall Fashion Show at noon Oct. 25 at Capitol Plaza Hotel and Convention Center.
Guests will enjoy lunch while previewing the new fall fashions and accessories from many returning local businesses, and a few new additions to the runway line-up.
Fashion show event chairman Vicki Myers mentioned Calena's Fashions in Holts Summit, which closed last year, as a previous participant.
"So along with Dillard's, JCPenney, Ana Marie's Bridal, Samuel's Tuxedos & Gifts, and American Shoe, we are adding Carrie's Hallmark and a new store on Missouri Boulevard, Front Porch Boutique."
Myers said the addition of Carrie's Hallmark allows guests to see the diverse line of accessories and other fashions available through the locally owned store, and she and her fellow club members are excited to give a new business like Front Porch Boutique the opportunity to showcase their variety of women's and children's clothing.
JCPenney first returned to the Council of Clubs Fall Fashion Show last year after a 20-plus year absence, and Myers said the club is excited not only to showcase its casual fall fashion lines for everyone in the family, but also to have the department store provide the models' hair and make-up through its salon and in-house Sephora branch.
"It is very nice to have them back and for them to be able to provide all that for the show," she added.
Women-owned and local women's fashion boutiques and stores are what the Council of Clubs aim to highlight during its only fundraiser of the year, and one final addition to the showcase fits this mission - Dreams to Reality. The nonprofit organization provides free work attire to help women in transition feel confident and prepared for employment opportunities, Myers said.
"They are also a retail boutique and use these funds to purchase work items such as scrubs and steel-toed boots for women starting out in careers," she said. "We are excited to have and support Dreams to Reality at our event."
Many models are returning to the runway at the Council of Clubs Fall Fashion Show, including three men who took a year's departure and a mother and daughters sharing in the spotlight together. Models showcasing the latest styles include Jefferson City Mayor Carrie Tergin, Theressa Ferguson, Joan Firley, Leslie Tanner, Brooke Tanner, Stacey Kolzow, Chuck Walker, Travis Stephens, Tony Lutz, Ashley Peterson, Ally Bess Peterson, Harper Peanut, Dorothy Goodin, Heather Pirner, Brittany Baines, David Bange, Liz Morrow, Margaret Rehman Boulch, Samantha Sanford and Deloise Williams.
As the organization's only fundraiser, the fashion show's proceeds are distributed among a few local charitable organizations or programs, which are selected through an application process. The two organizations receiving proceeds from the event this year are Dental, Eye and Shoe Program and Food Bank of Central & Northeast Missouri.
Partnering with agencies across a 32-county area, including Cole and others in Mid-Missouri, the Food Bank of Central & Northeast Missouri is a regional and hunger relief network that acquires and distributes millions of pounds of food every year. They work with 140 food pantries, soup kitchens, shelters and other agencies to ensure food gets into the hands of community members who need it. For more information, visit sharefoodbringhope.org.
"With the Dental, Eye and Shoe Program, professionals help individuals in need. Dentists and eye doctors make sure these children get those needed services who may not be able to get them regularly, and social workers help children who are in need of shoes receive them," Myers said. "There is no overhead with this organization; it is all volunteer and 100 percent of the money goes back to provide these services."
To contact the Dental, Eye and Shoe Program, call 573-761-6204.
The Jefferson City Council of Clubs' first mission was to establish the community nurse position, pay her salary and provide her a car. Last year, the Council of Clubs celebrated its 100th year anniversary, as did the Cole County Health Department, which credits its own foundation rooted in that key action, Myers said.
During their tenure, the Council of Clubs has joined countless community efforts to support its mission to promote health and welfare of the community. They have aided in highway beautification efforts, supported free lunch programs at schools, preserved fruits and vegetables for the less fortunate, assisted the American Red Cross, raised money for the Community Chest (a predecessor of the United Way), promoted the Jefferson City Symphony, participated in cleanup projects, invested in SIDS monitor investment for families, provided career-specific uniforms to Dreams to Reality, and helped in the relocation for the Boys & Girls Club of Jefferson City.
Fashion Show and Luncheon attendees will have the chance to enter and win door prize drawings, with the organization's 22-member women's clubs sharing gift baskets they have put together with items from local businesses.
Tickets are $30 each or table of 10 for $300. For reservation and payment information, please contact Crystal Miller at 573-634-1110 or [email protected].