Every year, the worlds of fashion and healthcare come together for one memorable evening of glitz and glamour, fundraising and cocktails. Baptist Health Care’s Stepping Out in Style event, coordinated by the organization’s foundation, has been going on for 39 years. What started as a luncheon between ladies who wanted to look at some of the season’s trends has evolved into one of the year’s hottest events.
Starting last year, Stepping Out in Style began emphasizing local fashions from places like Indigeaux, The Market and Mainly Shoes, Fig at Duh for Garden and Home and more. No longer would attendees see widely produced fashion; instead, they would be treated to fabrics and styles unique to the Gulf Coast that audience members could go out to their locally run store to purchase and enjoy.
And it’s no longer just for the ladies, either. Men’s and children’s fashion will be on display as over a dozen professional models rock the area’s trendiest looks. The Foundation contracts the efforts of an expert designer who flies into town, goes around to all the stores and actually picks the pieces off the rack. It is extremely important to event coordinators that audience members can actually buy the exact clothing they see on the catwalk. The fashion designer then comes back into town the day before the show to work with the models and make sure the entire event aesthetic is flawless.
The event is always a big hit. For every year in recent memory, the fashion show has sold out at 450 people, often weeks before the Oct. 15 event day. Last year, the Foundation raised $102,000 to improve quality of life in the community. This year’s funds will be focused on the mother and baby unit of Baptist Hospital. Tickets are $50 and are available at baptisthealthcarefoundation.com.
“The audience always has a blast and the local retailers are very happy with the results of the event,” said Heather Moorer, development director for the Foundation. “We’re happy to put on a professional show with professional models and great styles.”
In addition to the runway show, this event will feature both silent and live auctions, hors doeuvres and a cash bar. The event starts at 5:30 and the fashion portion kicks off around 7 pm.
“We have many donors who look forward to the event and attend,” said Moorer. “I think the community really loves it. It’s a lot of work to put on but it’s always a success.”
The red carpet extravaganza happens at New World Landing and Moorer hopes that the affair continues to get bigger and better.
“Get your tickets early,” said Moorer. “Everybody loves the local shops and giving to the great cause.”