Jean Cole’s Vintage Style Show displays fashions from various eras

At the Calvary Presbyterian Church on Saturday, guests were invited to travel through over a century’s worth of time through a fashion show.

In partnership with and benefiting the Cass County Historical Society, Jean Cole’s Vintage Style Show and Luncheon had models sharing clothing and accessories that embody fashions from the 1980s back to the 1850s, according to casscountyhistory.org.

Jean Cole, owner of the Cole Clothing Museum, said she has been collecting clothing before her museum opened. She said she started doing style shows to talk about early detection for breast cancer, as she had breast cancer and did not want other women to go through that. After she realized she had something going, Cole said she decided to find a place to house her collection, which is how her museum got started. She said she has done style shows for 20 years.

““I wanted to do something for the Historical Society, and I thought I hadn’t done the style show in several years, and so I decided to do this,” Cole said.

Throughout the show, models displayed fashions from different eras, including shoulder pads for the 1970s, poodle skirts for the 1950s, evening gowns for the 1940s and more, all while time appropriate music filled the room. Before the show, a salad buffet and desserts were available and provided by Vibrant Events Catering. Prizes were also given out at different points of the show to guests.

Cole said the main purpose of the event is for women to gather and have fun.

“It’s good to… get excited about something different… it’s fun. And… I thank God for the years ended up that way,” Cole said. “I just thank God for the years that I’ve been able to do style shows and luncheons at the museum and make memories for women. I just owe all to God.”