Lauren McMackin wears a silk beige jacket and skirt from the 1990s. Here are the latest outfits worn on historic catwalks. The Italian stand-up collar epitomizes the minimalism and casual style that dominated the late 20th century.
The program is called “Making Fashion: A Historic Fashion Show.” Held in Turner Hall, the show showcases clothing and accessories from yesteryear.
After a special luncheon, guests watched a fashion show in which nine volunteers modeled 30 different looks.
Lisa Besemer served as master of ceremonies, introducing each of the historic fashion combinations.
Besemer opens by telling the story of her grandmother, Helen Brust, who loves to shop in the shops in Neu Ulm.
Brown County Historical Society (BCHS) Director Amy Johnson (right) and former BCHS Director Katherine Barker (left) dress up for the History Fashion Show at Turner Hall. The two directors pose for a photo in front of Backer’s collection of vintage hats and accessories on display during the fair.
“Shopping is a social activity,” Bessemer said. It’s not uncommon for women to dress up to go shopping. In honor of her grandmother, Besemer wore a dress similar to what she wore in the 1950s. A fashion show is a way to remember all the ladies of fashion.
The show opens with models from the 1960s, because that was a big decade in fashion. 60s looks include yellow seersucker summer dresses, fuchsia 1960s velvet trousers and the popular pink pencil skirt suits of 1965. Jenny Eckstein shows off a 1960s Berkshire sleeveless polyester jersey dress.
Later in the show, models wear maternity tops from the 1960s. The dress style originated in the 1950s. Besemer said it was acceptable for women to be out in public during the later stages of pregnancy.
Model Karen King wears a 1960s shift dress. Shift dresses became popular in the 1920s, but made a comeback in the 1960s. Besemer says the skirts work best on tall women like King.
Michele Juni Seifert wears a black and white 1960s hound coat dress.this dress is considered to be “go away” Dresses are often paired with Go-Go boots.
Karen King wears a pink stand-neck dress from 1941 with a jacket with a beaded yoke tie for a breezy look. The dress is on loan from Marilyn Hesse. This dress was worn by Leona Hesse for her 50th wedding anniversary.
The show jumped back to 1926, with Lauren McMakin wearing a half-cut, floor-length dress. The dress originally belonged to Marguerite Pfaender Runk for her senior spring dance at New Ulm High School.
Donna Wing paired a floral dress with a matching headband in the late 1930s. This dress is handmade. Wing designed a collection of 1940s dresses, including a short-sleeved polyester black dress and a 1940s blue velvet wedding dress. The velvet wedding dress made an impact on the audience. It is unusual to see a blue wedding dress. Besemer says it’s one of the more common bridal gown colors. The velvet material helps the bride stay warm during the cooler season wedding.
The show featured several vintage school uniforms, bringing nostalgia to many viewers. King wore an old Cathedral High School uniform, consisting of a wool blazer, tweed slacks and a matching vest. Slack options were introduced in the late 1960’s.
Later, King designed the 1961 white cotton sports jumpsuit, which in the early ’60s NUHS girls had to wear to PE classes. Women who have to wear it don’t remember it fondly, says Besemer.
Model Kristine Runck later displays Teacher Mankato’s varsity basketball uniform from 1927. The dress belonged to Marguerite Pfaender, who wore it on her basketball team. The uniform featured a pair of pleated wool shorts, but looked like a skirt from a distance.
Model Misty DeLeo impresses everyone by styling the Major’s uniform in 1958.This suit was originally worn by Patricia “Pazzi” Glaesmann is a girl student at Neu-Ulm High School. Patsy went on to become the National Baton Spin Champion. Patsy attended the fashion show and got a big applause from the audience.
Misty DeLeo wears a replica of a 1950s Betty Paige forest green suit, high-waisted. This dress is from DeLeo’s own collection.
Jeanne Kretsch later parodied the classic poodle dress. The poodle skirt style was very popular with teenage girls in the 50s, both for dancing and for everyday wear.
Jeanne Kretsch wore a floral jumpsuit with a matching jacket. This dress was from Herberger in the 1970s.
Mike McGinn wears a 1975 jumper with a peach shirt and Peter Pan collar. The dress belonged to Kristine Runck, who, in addition to modeling, worked as a maternity nurse and became one of the first women on Milford Town Board.
King wears a 1970s peach coat dress with notch collar, lapels and scarf. The modern coat dress first appeared in the 1910s, but has remained a staple for decades.
Sarah Warmka styled a 1970s floral shirtdress with a matching fabric belt and dangling tassel trim. Besemer commented that it’s the perfect spring outfit. Warmka later designed a 1989 navy blue military-inspired dress with pointed leather lapels.
Seifert wears a red and gray polka dot dress that was specially ordered from the JC Penny catalog. The dress is owned by BCHS Research Librarian Darla Gebhard, who wore it to the dedication of the Brown County Historical Society’s new museum in 1986.
A silk beige jacket and skirt from the 1990s was the most modern look on the runway. By the end of the 20th century, fashion was moving toward minimal and casual styles, says Besemer.
The show ended on a high note with a 1940s satin wedding dress worn by Misty De Leo. This dress features puffed sleeves, beaded shoulders, ruffled back and cathedral train. The dress belonged to De Leo’s grandmother, Flavia De Leo.
At the end of the show, Besemer reminded the audience that it’s still a fashion faux pas to wear white pants, shoes or a purse ahead of Memorial Day.
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