More than two centuries of fashion will be on display in Luling on June 25 – and through it all, a story of our country’s history.
This month the St. Charles Women’s Club presents “We’ve come a long way, baby! – 250 years of the evolution of women through history and fashion” at the Lafon Performing Arts Center, part of the parish’s America 250 celebration. The event will feature 23 models taking the stage for a historical fashion show, live performances, stories honoring influential women through history, and student art and writing displays.
There will be a cash bar, concessions and patriotic items for sale. The show will begin at 7 p.m. with doors opening at 6:30. Tickets are $20. Seating is reserved in advance – thus groups planning to sit together should arrange for that at ticket purchase.
The show will highlight 250 years of fashion and women’s changing roles in society. Together, the models will showcase a living timeline. There will be five vignettes showcasing different time periods – one will depict slavery, another suffrage to note two examples.
“We kind of tossed around some ideas and, being the Women’s Club, we thought it would be interesting to show the last 250 years through the evolution of women through history and fashion,” said Regina Allemand of the Women’s Club. “We have some guest models and then the members of our club will be modeling – each was given a different era and role to take on.”
That idea was the start, but the Women’s Club added from there – St. Charles Parish students will contribute to the show as well. Language Arts students wrote essays about influential women who shaped America. Some students will read their essays during the event. Art students created artwork based on photographs of the models in costume. Their work will be displayed in the lobby.
“It took on a life of its own and really blossomed,” said Allemand. “The schools chose 21 women to be featured. We’ve been sharing those essays online and we’re excited to have the students participating in the event.”
Beyond the fashion show component, those attending may be surprised to find a greater theatrical element than expected. The vignettes will range from dramatic to comedic – one scenario sees a modern woman from 2026 talking to a woman from the 1800s and joking about their respective fashion choices.
“Some of them are gut-wrenching, some more of a comedy, and some very inspiring,” said Allemand. 
Emcees for the show will be Glynn Boyd, former longtime WGNO reporter, and Nicondra Norwood, FOX8 meteorologist.
There will be a display in the lobby for viewing during intermission and prior to the show featuring the sewing handiwork of women through the years. Families are lending hand-sewn pieces, needlework and historical textiles for display, some of which date back to the 1800s.
Mary Ann Vial Lemmon, Joan Becnel, Nancy Wilson and Felicia Gomez-Walker will be honored at the show as well for their impact.
For the finale, the audience will join in with the Women’s Club to sing “Happy Birthday America” and everyone will receive a tasty treat – a red, white and blue cupcake – as they leave.
