Seven years ago Deb Maevers was having a restless night of sleep. She drifted into what she described as a nightmare. Maevers said she dreamed she was standing on a stage upstairs at Buckner’s in Cape Girardeau. Alone, she stood in silence. In her dream she started tapping on the microphone.

“Testing, testing.” Only the echo of her voice was heard.

“There was no one there,” Maevers said.

The next night was the first Vintage NOW Fashion Show at Buckner’s. Maevers said her assistant came backstage to speak with her and said there were people all the way down the stairs, through the restaurant and out onto Main Street trying to enter. At that moment, Maevers realized Vintage NOW was going to be something special and her nightmare would not come true.

“We knew that people were interested in it,” Maevers said

Owner of Pastimes Antiques and founder of Vintage NOW, Maevers was on the verge of launching an annual event that would grow into a night of fashion, fun and empowerment to raise funds for the Safe House for Women, a not-for-profit organization that provides safe shelter and support to women and children who have experienced domestic violence.

Vintage NOW 7 will be held at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 22, at the Osage Centre in Cape Girardeau. This year’s theme is 1940s USO.

Maevers said the center will be decorated in red, white and blue.

“It will be a very patriotic evening,” she said.

The show will consist of two fashion segments with a break in between. The first segment will feature day looks and the second, evening looks.

Maevers said there will be 44 models with one change of clothing, showing 88 looks.

One of those models is Pamela Avila, a second-year graduate student at Southeast Missouri State University. Avila said she has been involved with Vintage NOW since 2011.

After all these years, Avila said she still gets nervous before walking the runway.

“Right before a show there’s always that, like, moment of adrenaline,” Avila said. “My hands start shaking, but then every time as soon as I walk out I just feel so comfortable and it’s just so much fun.”

Avila is the cover girl of Vintage NOW 7 and is featured on all the artwork and advertisements. She said she’s thrilled to be the first model to walk on Saturday.

“It’s so exciting and I’m just so thankful to be able to be a part of that,” Avila said. “I’ve been doing the show for so many years and to be able to be kind of the cover girl this year, it’s really exciting. I’m just so happy that I can help promote this amazing event that helps so many people every year.” Avila said.

Maevers encourages audience members to dress up in the 1940s USO theme. She said all of the models will be wearing red shoes, which will signify strength and courage.

“We’re standing up, we’re walking strong for the women of the safe house,” Maevers said.

Maevers hopes to see the audience in red shoes as well.

“I would love just to peek out from backstage and just see a sea of red shoes in the audience; that would be awesome,” Maevers said.

Models of all ages will be on the runway during the Vintage NOW Fashion Show. Maevers said the youngest model is 15 years old and the oldest is Maevers’ mother at 76.

Maevers also said models of all sizes will be featured, including professional models.

“You’re going to see a little bit of everything,” Maevers said.

After seven years, Maevers said the Vintage NOW Fashion Show has grown to a magnitude not even she could’ve predicted.

“I definitely can’t take credit for this show anymore,” Maevers said. “It’s grown bigger than me and my vision. It’s a team of people.”

General admission tickets can be purchased online at vintagenowfashionshow.com until the morning of the show. Tickets will also be available at the door.