TEXARKANA, Ark. - Get hip to the colorful styles on Saturday when the Texarkana Museums System continues a year-long celebration of its 50th anniversary with a retro fashion show.
Starting at 2 p.m. at the P.J. Ahern Home, models will sport the iconic looks so memorable from the 1970s, ranging from bell-bottoms to prairie dresses and more, with an event billed as "From Pinafores to Polyester."
Last weekend's Ace of Clubs dance party, Boogie Fever: 1971, was rescheduled because of weather. It will also be held Saturday but in the evening starting at 7 p.m.
Hence, Saturday's fashion show is one of several events the TMS has hosted with a 1971 theme. Many of the outfits come from the Museums System's collection of clothing, but some will be shown courtesy of local collectors and vintage clothing fans.
"Some of the best pieces we have for the show were borrowed from Tonia Chambers, who is in the process of setting up a vintage clothing business," explained Jamie Simmons, TMS curator, in a statement. "Jaslyn Ebron, Tika Rowe and Isabella Rowe are vintage clothing enthusiasts who will be modeling some of the clothing in their own collections. It's a wonderfully eclectic mix of styles that really speak to the individuality that defined the decade, all against the backdrop of the Ahern Home's historic interiors."
As well, former model Carol Collins-Miles, who worked for Hubert de Givenchy and other designers in Paris, France, will serve as a guest model.
Models will showcase these fashions throughout the first floor of the Arkansas-side 1905 Classical Revival mansion. In an interview, Simmons said the volunteer models will walk through just as though it was a real style show.
TMS Board President Velvet Cool will emcee, introducing models and providing information about the outfits, many of which were added to the TMS collection over time.
"They were donated by various people over the years. We have some pieces that Cornelia DeWoody gave us before she passed away. She was pretty well known here in town for collecting vintage clothing," Simmons said, noting double knit fabrics were popular in the '70s.
"A lot of clothing at that time was innovative because of the fabrics they were developing and how easy it was to wear them and take care of them," Simmons said. "Also, the colors that you find in that time."
Even today, those bright colors are outstanding, she said. Occasionally, such vintage wear makes a return in popularity.
"We're in one of those periods right now where vintage clothing is really popular," Simmons said. The show will include '70s-themed refreshments to be served to the guests attending this TMS fundraiser.
Chambers is preparing a space to sell her vintage wear and other vintage items over at the Robert Pynes-owned Caveman Consignment Co. on New Boston Road.
"This is what he calls the Betty and Wilma section of the Cave," she said. "It's got all the girl's stuff in it."
She thinks of the developing space as a retro lounge and salon. She considers herself a vintage lifestyle coach. "I've done a few people's living rooms. I've done some flea market booths for people, stuff like that," said Chambers, a self-described "hippie art chick" in high school and an art student in college.
Her resurgent interest in flea markets, estate sales, antiques and vintage wear recently connected her to the local community of pickers and salvagers. She's a deal finder, always on the lookout for vintage styles.
"I rarely wear anything more than three or four times because my outfits are $2, $3, $4, $5 maybe," said Chambers, who will also model at the show, along with her daughter Eleanor.
She's loaning a bunch of her vintage clothes to the fashion show, about 80 pieces: business dresses, go-go dresses and more.
"I have a lot of the maxi dresses, the really long polyester maxi dresses. Some of them are bright colors. Some of them are plain with the little belt at the top, the empire waist kind of thing. Some of them have that prairie feel to it," Chambers said, noting the '70s was a transitional decade, a blend of fashions.
She sees a connection between the TMS mission and her interest in vintage wear.
"The reason that I do what I do is preserving history," Chambers said.
(Admission is $5 per person, free for TMS. Reservations are requested. Tickets may be available at the door but seating is limited. For more information or to purchase tickets, call 903-793-4831 or visit TexarkanaMuseums.org/Events. The P.J. Ahern Home is located at 403 Laurel St.)