Social KC: 18th St. Fashion Show - Gilded Summer

What are two of my favorite things?  Dressing up and fashion shows (they are not mutually exclusive either.)  Last summer I attended the 18th Street Fashion Show - Triple Crown Summer and loved it.  Held outdoors on 18th Street (you saw that coming, right?) the fashion show was a celebration of local businesses and the multi-cultural crowd that was there to witness it.  

This year's theme is Gilded Summer:

The free show (free means standing room on the sidewalk vs. VIP being an actual seat,) will be held Saturday, June 8, at dusk.  For more information and to purchase tickets, please visit www.westeighteenthstreet.com.  

What does gilded summer mean exactly?  The powers-that-be at 18stFS take the term from the Gilded Age, a period lasting roughly from the 1870s-1900s.  This article has a great quote, "We think of clothing as being cheap and disposable.  In this time period, clothing was more of an art."  While I don't wholly agree with that statement (and I think most designers wouldn't agree with it either,)   it was a time when "society" only saw you in your finest - or art.  Keeping in mind that Mark Twain satirized what he would describe as "an era of serious social problems hidden by a thin layer of gold."*  (Again, I disagree.  When has there ever been an era in which serious social problems aren't generally sugar-coated or avoided?  Also, this was an important time in history for woman's suffrage - no layers of gold there,) this gives fashion-lovers the perfect opportunity to pull out their artsiest pieces and wear them!  While I don't suggest satin and crinoline ball gown types (it will be summer, it will be warm) I'm excited to begin the hunt for the perfect outfit!  Any suggestions?

p.s.  Designers - it's not too late to send in your applications!  Application submission ends March 18th........I'm so excited to see which amazing designers will be chosen this year.

*quoted from Wikipedia