When Deb Boyer Maevers, owner of Pastimes Antiques, came into an estate of vintage clothing, the first idea that popped into her head was to launch a fashion show. She called it Vintage NOW.

The first show was in the upper level of the now-closed Buckner Brewing Co. back in 2009 with roughly 300 people in attendance. Last year, the event was held at the Osage Centre and had grown to about 1,100.

The show is themed according to a chosen decade. Maevers said she was reluctant to highlight "her" era, but in the days following last year's show, people were already asking for the 1970s.

"Once I gave in and said, 'OK, we'll do the '70s,' it's been fun planning and the atmosphere, not just the clothing, the room has been fun," Maevers said.

The sixth Vintage NOW Fashion Show will begin at 7:30 p.m., with doors opening at 6 p.m., Oct. 24 at the Osage Centre.

Maevers said the preshow is designed to be "mix and mingle" time. Disco balls and motion lights will fill the room to take people back in time.

"We want the atmosphere to feel like you've stepped back in time, 1975, and you are at a disco in New York or Studio 54," Maevers said.

Maevers said she's planning a stilt walker and juggler for the time as well. Attendees can also vote in a silent auction.

She added that a vote will also go on between 6 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. to choose the first male model to walk down the runway. The group of 14 men, called peace ambassadors, includes Virgil Jones, Mike Rust, Kirby Ray, Wes Wade and Missouri State Senator Wayne Wallingford. Boxes with the men's respective pictures will be set up as people walk in, and they can cast their nomination with a $1 donation.

As a part of the show's kick off, opening number dancers will model John Travolta's moves from "Saturday Night Fever" as the scene plays on a projector above.

There are 40 models who will show 80 looks down the runway, each changing once. Maevers said the two segments are titled "Groovy Days" and "Boogie Nights." The silhouette of a posed model will show behind 8-foot tall, 6-foot wide panels before each walk.

Leshay Mathis, a Southeast Missouri State University alumna and now admission counselor, is one of this year's cover models. Maevers said models range in ages from 14 to 75. Her mother is 75 and has participated every year from the show's beginning.

Maevers shows up to each model fitting and style session. She has four stylists assigned to 10 models each. But she said the models ultimately have the final say in what they wear.

Nicole Fouche has been a stylist for Vintage NOW over the past four years. She said to help her find the right outfit she looks at the model's own style and applies it to the theme.

"We always try to ask them, 'Hey, do you feel comfortable wearing this? If not, we're not going to make you go out there and wear something you don't feel good in,'" Fouche said. "The show's about feeling good and being a woman and empowering them. I think if you walked out there and you didn't feel comfortable in what you're wearing then you wouldn't be too empowered."

Fouche custom designs dresses in her full-time job, so she's not unfamiliar with pulling trends together.

"When you're making garments, you're thinking about the entire look, so you're styling anyway," Fouche said.

Maevers said the 1970s was a time when a younger generation fought to be heard. That was evident in the music and even more so in the period fashion.

"I think this year feels like the most really diverse selection of clothing, but that was the era, that was the '70s, man," Maevers said, laughing.

That's coming back. Maevers noted all fashion tends to repeat itself every 30 to 35 years.

"With a twist," she added.

Wide-leg, bell bottom-inspired pants, fringe and beaded garments still line store racks today. According to Maevers, the Buckle store at West Park Mall provided new pieces to pair with the show's vintage.

"It fits in with the trends you're going to see today, so at least people know when they come to the show, they're going to be able to see something they could probably go to a thrift store and buy and put together with their modern pieces," Fouche said.

The proceeds from the Vintage NOW Fashion Show benefit the Safe House for Women. For Maevers, her event was never really about the clothes. It was about the women wearing them and the women they're wearing them for.

"In our fashion show all of our models are mostly local women and all ages, all sizes, that's important to me," Maevers said. "And also, that we show the audience that every woman's beautiful. Every woman that walks, I kind of do a little pep talk when I go backstage, like a football coach I guess, similar to a ballgame, is just tell these ladies, 'Remember, you're walking for a woman from the Safe House, you're walking for someone. Be strong, be confident because you're walking for someone that can't.'"