Steampunk fashion show, photo shoot to benefit Clark County Museum

Retroscope Fashions is planning to host another photo odyssey and fashion show next month at the Clark County Museum.

Laura Jones, an organizer for the event, said the concept started last year as an opportunity for photographers, both professional and hobbyists, to take pictures of models in vintage costumes at the museum, 1830 S. Boulder Highway.

"It was a much smaller scale," Jones said. "We were just testing the waters. We liked it so much we wanted to do it again."

Mark Hall-Patton, the administrator for Clark County Museums, said that last year, models were set up in different vignettes for photographers to take pictures. The scenes ranged from models posing on a train to standing next to some of the historic houses on Heritage Street.

This year, the event is scheduled from 1 to 7 p.m. May 5.

Jones hopes to make this event bigger with the theme of steampunk - a fashion style that adds futuristic elements to Victorian-type clothing.

"It's like what people saw as the future of their time," Jones said. "So you have Victorian-area fashion or things from World War I or the Old West era , and you add brass or other elements to make it almost like a futuristic version of that period piece."

Hall-Patton, who plans to serve as master of ceremonies for the fashion show, said steampunk utilizes 19th-century fashion in a 21st-century way.

"People have probably seen it in movies like 'Wild Wild West' or 'The Prestige,' " Hall-Patton said.

Jones said proceeds from the event are to be donated to the Clark County Museum.

"I tried to pay for most things out of pocket so the proceeds could go to the museum," Jones said. "It's a good cause, and it's good to keep the history alive at the Clark County Museum."

Hall-Patton said the event also is a good way to introduce more people to the museum.

"I think we have the best museum," Hall-Patton said. "It's nice to get more people down here to see it."

Last year, about 70 photographers participated, Jones said.

"And we expect more this year," she added.

Because there were only eight models last year, organizers invited more models to participate and opened it up to the steampunk community.

"It's a large community of more than 200 people," Jones said.

Anyone can sign up as a model as long as they pay the registration fee and are dressed in the proper theme of steampunk.

The event is open to the public.

"It's an absolutely fun, family event," Jones said. "You can check out fashions you're probably not going to see on a regular basis - even in Las Vegas."

Tickets are $10 to watch the fashion show, which starts at 5:30 p.m.

To participate as a model, tickets are $10, or $20 with lunch.

Entry fees for photographers range from $30 to $60, depending on whether they have an assistant.

Participants must register by May 2.

For more information, visit retroscopefashions.com.

Contact Henderson/Anthem View reporter Michael Lyle at mlyle@viewnews.com or 387-5201.