Editor's Note: Past NCA Presidents Pam Markel and Dwayne Ibsen have been writing about the association's history. This year they are writing about the Creative Style Show, an event that took place at the annual convention. Click here to read the previous installment of this series.
One of the most popular events and one that all shops were eager to participate in was the Creative Style Show. Several shops were sent identical boxes of fabric and trim and asked to create a costume to be modeled at convention. In 1986 the fabric was a light blue, royal blue, and pink taffeta with a silver trim.
Ten shops participated and they are as follows:
“Dance Hall Girl”, Harlequin Costumes, Santa Barbara, CA
“Colonial Dress”, Astrid’s Costume Attic, Buena, CA
“Jester”, Costume Holiday House, Fremont, OH
“Empire Dress”, Boston Costumes, Boston, MA
“Lady Clown”, Masters Costumes, Bailey’s Crossroads, VA
“Evening Gown”, Extravaganza, Fresno, CA
“Harem Elephant”, Creative Costumes, Tucson, AZ
“20’s Evening Gown”, Mardi Gras Costumes, Scottsdale, AZ
“1890 Showgirl”, Ibsens Costume Gallery, Omaha, NE
“Southern Belle”, Carolina Costume, Asheville, NC