What began as a small idea in 2010 will celebrate 10 years of empowering women through fashion, fundraising and fun: the VintageNOW Fashion Show on Friday, Oct.19.

Founder and Executive Director of VintageNOW Deb Maevers didn’t shun her small beginnings of the now-annual event.

“We were so small in the beginning, and we really thought the first show was just going to be the only show,” she said. “We didn’t even have a runway. We would rent carpet for the models to walk on, and now we’re at the Show Me Center.”

Maevers said the show was only able to grow bigger because of the community’s support of the reason behind the show: domestic violence awareness and the idea that victims, women and men are not alone.

VintageNOW will host its annual entertainment event for Abuse Awareness Month — benefiting the Safe House for Women — at the Show Me Center.

This year’s theme, Heroes and Legends, was inspired by difference makers and other empowering people across several decades, Maevers said.

“It’s our 10 year anniversary, so we kind of wanted to pull from a lot of different decades, and we started thinking world-changers and people that have made a difference,” Maevers said. “It just evolved into Heroes and Legends.”

Maevers said she created this fashion show from her love for fashion and desire to help other women in the Safe House.

“I’ve always been interested in fashion, and my daughter suggested that we have a show, and I thought it could benefit the Safe House,” Maevers said. “We’ve raised over a half a million dollars through the fashion shows for the safe house.”

VintageNOW got its name from the initial start of the models wearing vintage clothing, paired with modern clothing so the audience could see a different way to sport vintage attire.

For those who have never attended a VintageNOW Fashion Show, Maevers was sure to point out each outfit on the runway will be more than what a person would find in the everyday vintage shop.

“Our show is more evolved; you’ll see a lot of very elaborate things that people wouldn’t wear on the street,” she said. “It’s more of a theatrical production. It’s so much more than a fashion show.”

Just like any entertainment event, there is always a purpose for the audience, and to that end, Maevers hopes for the best.

“I want a big community group hug,” she said. “I want them to have fun, and I want them to know that we are a community that supports one other if one is in need.”

Tickets for the event can be purchased on VintageNow.org or contacted at (573)-332-8882.