Deb Maevers, owner of Pastimes Antiques, wanted to start a fashion show in 2010 that showcased how the modern woman could use vintage pieces in her everyday wardrobe. She wanted Vintage Now to be not only about fashion, but also about raising money for a good cause. Maevers chose the Safe House for Women.

The event has sold out the past two years, at Buckner Brewery in 2010 and at The Venue in 2011. Vintage Now 3 will be at a bigger venue, the former Steve and Barry's location at West Park Mall. Vintage Now 2, held at The Venue, had over 700 guests, and there is space for 1,000 people this year.

Maevers' daughter Kyleigh Baliva, the manager at Pastimes Antiques and music coordinator for the event, said the Vintage Now Fashion Show is the first fashion show event in Cape Girardeau. She said it is popular because it is different from an average charity event.

"We've outgrown every place we have been," Baliva said. "There are over 40 models this year. And we have 50,000 square feet to work with. We are trying a 'U' shaped runway this year with seating available all around it."

Hayley Keith, a freshman biomedical sciences major at Southeast Missouri State University, modeled in the show two years ago and will model this year. She is signed to Ford Models in Chicago and Centro Models in St. Louis, and she often models in fashion shows in St. Louis. She said she loves to model for Vintage Now because it is so much more fun and low key than St. Louis fashion shows.

"The show is about mixing and matching the old and the new," Keith said. "Vintage clothing can be modern. But it's also for a good cause and it's mainly a fundraiser. I care about what I can do with modeling as a platform."

Students and faculty in the fashion department on campus are involved in Vintage Now shows. Lynn Moore, an instructor in the fashion merchandising program at Southeast, modeled last year and is excited about the clothes she will be modeling this year. Students in the major and in the fashion club on campus are also involved in modeling for the show.

According to Baliva, the event will be bigger, but they plan on keeping the same format that past attendees are used to seeing.

"Like last year, there will be a 1960's inspired performance by students from the Academy of Dance Art," Baliva said, "And we also will have the 2013 'Vintage NOW calendar' for sale as an additional fundraiser for $10 each. The models in the calendar portray vintage women famous in fashion, like Jackie Kennedy and Diana Ross, to name a few."

Michelle Scherer, executive director of the Safe House for Women, said Vintage Now 2 raised $30,000, and event coordinators have set a goal of $50,000 this year.

Scherer said the money Vintage Now raises is crucial for the Safe House. The nonprofit organization gets most of its money from federal grants, but the grants do not cover school supplies, uniforms, transportation and other things. The women and children the Safe House helps often need basic things, since they have to uproot themselves from their lives to get help.

"Local funding provides access and makes our women and children more comfortable," Scherer said. "We are just grateful for the coordinators of Vintage Now for choosing us. Local funding is very critical for our success in funding the services we provide."

The event may be about vintage fashion, but Scherer said the focus is on helping victims of domestic abuse. This year's speaker Karen Bowlin will talk about her experiences with domestic violence.

"The goal is to have fun, but also to include awareness of the Safe House for Women and the services we provide," Scherer said.

Vintage Now 3 will be at 6 p.m. on Oct. 30 in the former Steve and Barry's location at West Park Mall. Tickets are available at Pastimes Antiques and cost $25 for seats by the runway and $30 for general admission. The event will also include a silent auction, and guests will receive a free drink and hors d'oeuvres.