The stars of the show at the Cole County Historical Society's annual fashion show were local women modeling this season's fashion trends - but they were also Little Red Riding Hood, Katrina the Blue Dutch Girl and the Cookie Monster.
The latter three - antique cookie jars from a collection auctioned off as an added fundraiser for the society - joined annual modeling mainstays Jefferson City Mayor Carrie Tergin, Bernadette Miller, Joan Firley and several others at the Cole County Historical Society's biggest fundraiser of the year.
In its fifth year, the fashion show outgrew its original location, drawing a crowd of about 260 to Capitol Plaza Hotel for a Monday luncheon to celebrate the society's 75th anniversary. The historical society took in about $17,000 - far surpassing the $15,000 goal. The proceeds will go toward planned facility maintenance and operation costs.
"This has been the largest attendance that we've had," said Cole County Historical Society President Jim Weber. "In the past, we've only been able to accommodate about 200."
Last year, the event sold out all 230 seats at the Jefferson City Country Club, where the society held the fashion show for its first four years.
The fundraiser included a silent auction and, for the first time, a live auction, where attendees bid on pieces from a collection of antique cookie jars as well as a handmade quilt. One lucky auction winner opened her cookie jar to find she had also won a diamond valued at $300 from Gold Nugget Rare Coins & Jewelry - a special way to celebrate the society's "diamond anniversary."
As in previous years, longtime Jefferson City retailer Saffees provided the clothing on display as models made their way table to table, with mother and daughter Judy Howard and Michelle Hataway coordinating the fashion show.
While this year's proceeds primarily will go toward tuckpointing, painting and general maintenane at the Cole County Historical Society facility at 109 Madison St., Weber hopes the fashion show will continue to grow in future years to accommodate other needs.
"One of these years we're going to raise for new carpeting," he said.
With the extra funds the fashion show brought in this year, the historical society should be able to replace some window covers at the museum a year sooner than expected, Weber said, noting the building's current blinds don't sufficiently block the sun's ultraviolet rays, which damage the antique furniture inside.
"We'll be selective," he said. "We have a piano in the parlor from the 1800s, and the sun just kills the wood."
To read about the fashions on display at this year's show, read the article in the News Tribune's Style section this coming Sunday.