Listen to this articleOn May 17, local models will strut across the runway at La Caille wearing the trendiest fashions of the season, all to raise funs for the People With AIDS Coalition of Utah’s many programs.
Only, the stylish gear won’t be exactly what you might think. While there may well be designer dresses, jackets and jewelry, they will come not from the racks of a high-end store, but from the hangers at Our Store: Your Thrift Alternative, the organization’s thrift shop. That’s right, this fashion show is all about do it yourself, mix and match, and looking fabulous on a budget.
Oh, and the models — both male and female — will wear drag.
The charity event, explained PWACU Director Toni Johnson, came about in part because of the clothing and accessories members of the community bring to the store.
“We get such a wide range of clothing,” she explained. “We get dress wear, eveningwear. We get everything from bathing suits and underwear to elegant dresses, to everything in between.”
To better show off the range of donations the store receives, Johnson explained that the evening will be divided up into four outfit changes: casual wear, loungewear/pajamas, business attire and a set emcee Gus Garcia is calling “fashion forward.”
“It’s a funky mix and match type of thing where you can be all-out crazy,” explained Garcia, the owner of BrassRing Productions, which has produced the fashion show for two years running. Originally founded in Texas, BrassRing regularly produces events such as pageants and fashion shows, and was once featured on MTV.
According to Garcia, twenty models of both sexes will participate in the show, and many of these models will dress in drag.
“We always like to have little surprises in our fashion show,” Garcia explained.
The show—which Garcia described as upbeat, high energy and fast-paced—will be held at La Caille, an upscale French restaurant located in Little Cottonwood Canyon, 9565 Wasatch Blvd. The restaurant, which is housed inside a building reminiscent of 18th Century chateaus, offers four course meals throughout the year as well as an extensive wine and liquors selection. In addition to a night of food and fun, fashion show attendees will receive a $50 certificate to dine at the restaurant with their ticket purchase.
“It’s a beautiful place. We really appreciate them having us out there,” said Johnson.
In addition to the fashions and food, the evening will also include a silent auction with prizes ranging from furniture, jewelry and handmade artwork to restaurant and hotel gift certificates. The auction will open at 5:30 p.m. The fashion show and brunch will run form 2:00 – 6:00 p.m.
Tickets to the show are $75 and can be purchased online at pwacu.org.
