It’s an opportunity to show off your inner-weirdness without any judging minds.
“We like a little weird. I want people to feel free to experiment with what they are going to wear,” said Marissa Fox, who is the stylist behind an upcoming fundraising funky fashion show.
La Party Fantastique is an outlandish fashion show that will feature a wearable art parade, out-of-this world decorations and an opportunity to help the South Okanagan Victim Assistance Society and Penticton Art Gallery.
“We had wanted to do a wearable art thing for awhile and do something that isn’t as much traditional fashion. We liked the idea of not just using clothes off the rack but building things and making it a bit different. As well the community aspect of helping out these groups,” said La Party Fantastique stylist Marissa Fox.
The show will be held at the Centre for Excellence at Okanagan College on July 26, which Fox has plans to use its unique space to its fullest.
“It is such a good space as it is. The demo lab is really raw with all the plywood and big sliding garage door. We really liked how it looks and don’t want to strip away anything from that. It will be eclectic and fits with what the models will be wearing,” said Fox.
The event runs from 8 p.m. to midnight and, besides the fashion show itself, it will feature a DJ and music from a local band consisting of Tavis Weir, Lucas Penner and a few others. Food trucks will also be at the event to feed the crowds.
“For the most part we just really want it to be a great party,” said Fox. “It is an opportunity for people to get dressed out, enjoy the fashion show and dance. It is a really good time for people who have those pieces in their closet that they never know when to wear them to bust them out.”
The clothing is being provided from Tiger Alley in Penticton, which sells custom T-shirts and new and used apparel. Stylists from Heiress Salon and Boutique will be coming up with funky hairstyles for the 20 models.
“It is a mix of contemporary and vintage. Everything is predominately used and then all the headdresses were specifically made for the show,” said Tiger Alley owner Jordan Keij. “We try and find pieces that are really unique, high quality, brand name to bring an interesting shopping experience for people.”
Keij created all the elaborate head dresses herself.
“There is a lot of glue gun burns on me,” she joked. “It was a fun project though. It looks interesting and I think representative of a lot of things around the city.”
Local artists have been invited to submit ideas for wearable art pieces to be included in the fashion parade. Their one-off creative works will be available for sale on the night, with 10 per cent going to the fundraising cause. Contributing artists will retain 90 per cent of their sale. Limited positions for artists are available; anyone considering submitting a wearable art piece should apply via the website as soon as possible at www.pentictonsocialclub.com.
Anyone interested in supporting this event should contact the organizers via the event website www.pentictonsocialclub.com. Doors will open at 8 p.m. on July 26. Tickets are $40 general admission and $60 for VIP and must be bought in advance. They are on sale on the event website or in person at Heiress Salon & Boutique, Tiger Alley and Cowork Penticton.
