Fashion flashbacks will be featured in the Age of Aquarius Fashion Show Feb. 9 at the Associated Artists of Butler County Art Center on Main Street.

"The audience will be hit with a raw freshness through both unusual and elegant designs created by six designers," said Rebecca Rose, exhibit director, adding that 51 models will present the designs.

"We have models coming from the Midwest, New York, Ohio and one that was a Miss Pennsylvania," she said.

The fashion show is the final event of the fourth annual Age of Aquarius Festival, a monthlong festival of art, music and fashion that celebrates the 1960s and subsequent decades.

Sponsored by the AABC, the fashion show serves as an annual fundraiser.

Six designers are featured from Pittsburgh and areas surrounding Butler. They include Gene Burger, Savage Darling, Penni Laine, Jennie McCulloch, Amber Thompson, and Hilary Zozula.

Thomopson, a Butler City resident, returns to the festival after exhibiting last year.

Her designs include a pair of running shorts paired with a sheer, earthy, halter top.

"This design was inspired by a thrift store find of mine this summer, a pair of green running shorts straight out of the '80s, she said.

"I wanted to take the same idea and make it elegant. The halter was inspired by the reconnection with nature associated with the '60s and '70s," she added.

Thompson also debuts a pale pink baby doll dress made of lace.

"It is very flowing and natural. I expect the complete look to be ironic in the way that the dress is innocent and carefree while the hair and make-up will have an '80s punk feel to it," she said, noting the entire concept was originally inspired by a huge button.

Thompson is currently attending Kaplan Career Institute for Fashion Merchandising.

Burger of Munhall returns to Butler after 15 years.

"I'm a little older than most of the designers and I actually remember the "Dawning of the Age of Aquarius" from the '60s," she explained.

"I used the styles of that period as my inspiration. One of the dresses is my version of the paper dress of that time. It did not go anywhere but when I decided to do this show that old dress was just auctioned and sold for a nice piece of change," she said.

"I also designed a tea dress. It is trimmed with real tea bags and after you use the tea bags it is a dress that can be worn."

Burger has been designing historic costumes for museums, historical societies and reenactments since the '70s. She has won awards from The American Association of State and Local Histories, The Pennsylvania Federation of Historical Societies, and the Sons of Union Veterans.

"I was also awarded the DAR SAR (Daughters of the American Revolution, Sisters of the American Revolution) National History Medal by the Greensburg Chapter of the DAR. I received all of these awards for my historical fashion show "From the Skin Side Out: A Pageant of American Historical in Costume," Burger said.

Model Blair Dinucci, 16, of Wildwood, Miss., will be among those traveling to Butler to participate.

"I love fashion and feel this is a great opportunity to further my modeling career — and I love the designs of Anne Savage that I will be wearing," Dinucci explained.

Twins Amanda and Amber Budzowski, seniors at Slippery Rock University, jumped at the chance to walk the runway.

"We have always had a passion for fashion and great looking clothes so we do some modeling here and there when we have the time," Amanda said. According to rumors, their outfits will be a "twin thing."

During the fashion event, an appetizer reception and cash bar will take place. A disc jockey will provide musical entertainment.

"A unique collection of fantastic and unusual clothing and jewelry designs will be available for purchase after the show," said Rose, who hinted at a surprise ending with six special guest models.

Doors for the fashion show will open at 7 p.m. The show will begin at 8 p.m. The 100 available tickets will be sold on a first-come, first-served basis for $15 presale and $20 at the door.

<B>WHAT: </B>Age of Aquarius Fashion Show<B>WHEN: </B>7 p.m. Feb. 9<B>WHERE: </B>Associated Artists of Butler County Art Center 344 S. Main St.<B>TICKETS: </B>Limited supply available at the AABC Art Center for $15 per person pre-sale and $20 at the door.<B>INFO: </B>724-283-6922 or www.butlerartcenter.net