Cordova Pleasants can’t wait to show off dresses with beads and lace and see men in double-breasted suits strut their stuff.
Pleasants, owner of Resolute Boutique, has not found a time machine to take her back to the 1920s, but she was asked to be a part of the Juneau Rotaract Club and REACH “Flappers &Fashion” fashion show at 6 p.m. Saturday at Elizabeth Peratrovich Hall.
“I love fashion and to have an excuse to show fashion off is awesome,” Pleasants said. “I have been itching for a fashion show. I love this year’s theme. The 1920s is one of my all-time favorite times for fashion. I love how it was over-the-top with the polished looks and awesome hair.”
This is the second year that the Rotaract Club, a Rotary-sponsored club with members between the ages of 19-30, and REACH, Juneau’s largest service agency for those born with developmental disabilities, have combined to host a fashion show. Last year, the theme was spring and because of the success, Marciano Duran of Rotaract said doing another themed show this year was an easy decision.
“It is our biggest fundraising event,” Duran said. “We had a couple hundred people show up last year and it was well-received.”
The theme of the 1920s, Duran said, came to mind based on aesthetics.
“I thought it would be a fun way to decorate,” Duran said. “We will have a speakeasy-type entrance so people will really feel immersed in the 1920s when they walk in.”
There will also be themed cocktails, a photo booth and entertainment, Duran said.
The idea of the fashion show is to help raise funds for both the Rotaract and REACH as part of a 50/50 split, but also it serves as a way for local fashion boutiques to show off their styles and their interpretation of the 1920s fashion scene. Several boutiques in town will display their clothing with models walking down the runway. While the theme is the 1920s, the boutiques — and those in the audience — are not obligated, just encouraged, to dress for the era.
Gabriel Rivera, owner of 4th Coast Outfitters, said he is letting his models choose their styles.
“The way I have it set up is I want to give the models freedom with their apparel,” Rivera said. “I don’t want to force a style on anyone. I want them to be comfortable.”
Still, Rivera said, he does have an idea in mind.
“I will try to do a streetwear twist (on the 1920s),” Rivera said.
Joann Flora said not only does the fashion show benefit REACH and Rotaract, it also acts as an event that really gives local business owners an outlet to make themselves more known that they would not normally get any other way.
“We have so many small local businesses and this is a great opportunity for them to show off what is actually in their stores,” said Flora, Fund Development Director at REACH. “It is easy to overlook some of the smaller shops. This is a nice way for small retailers to show off what they do best. It really will be the ‘bee’s knees’ and the ‘cat’s meow.’”
Pleasants said while she is excited to display her clothing, she is also looking forward to what other boutiques have in store.
“I love this as a way to showcase what fashion in Juneau is,” Pleasants said. “I was in the audience last year and it was great. Now I get to be a part of it and see what everyone else brings to the table and see how they fit the theme. Everybody is going to have different ideas.”
Pleasants also added that whether everyone joins in with the theme or does their own thing, she just wants everyone in attendance to walk away feeling better about themselves and fashion.
“Fashion is such a personal thing,” Pleasants said. “Fashion can make people feel really good about themselves. I just hope people at the event will be inspired by fashion.”
• Contact reporter Gregory Philson at gphilson@juneauempire.com or call at 523-2265. Follow him on Twitter at @GTPhilson.
