Published: November 19, 2009 09:49 am      

Hair, clothes, art at 'Glam' show

Event is part of Zonta's annual Festival of Trees

TRAVERSE CITY -- Grab your girlfriends and get ready for the season's blowout fashion event.

Friday evening's Gals, Glam and Glitz -- Girls Night Out will bring a taste of New York runway style to Traverse City. Hosted by the Zonta Club of Traverse City and Impres Salon Spa, the upscale fundraiser will provide scholarship money to area women in need.

A sellout every year, the 300 tickets are going fast so book early for the fashion and hair show. Tickets are $40 each and available by calling 947-3195, online with a credit card at www.zontatc.org and at Impres Salon (cash or checks only).

Held at the Hagerty Center on Northwestern Michigan College's Great Lakes Campus, the event also features dancers, makeovers and performers as well as appetizers and local wine, door prizes and gifts for everyone.

"It's an unbelievably creative production, something out of New York," said Peg Jonkhoff, who co-chairs the event with fellow Zonta Club member Marsha Dew. "It's just a great time with your girlfriends or for anyone interested in hair and fashion because the creative talents are just second to none."

Gals, Glam and Glitz is held amid the sparkling decorations of the annual Festival of Trees, which has its own busy schedule all weekend at the Hagerty Center. Another Zonta Club of Traverse City annual tradition, the Festival of Trees provides the perfect backdrop for an enchanted evening.

"It's magical, it really is," said Jonkhoff.

Forty area models will showcase fashions from five Traverse City retailers, including clothing and accessories from Cali's, Ella's, What to Wear and Krissies as well as shoes from Art from the Sole.

The heart of Gals, Glam and Glitz comes from Impres Salon in Traverse City, where a team of 20 volunteers donate their time, training and creativity. Transforming the models all day Friday into sleek fashion plates is a blast for all involved. The salon will also do four professional makeovers and display the "before" and "after" photos at the event.

While showcasing high fashion throughout the show, the idea is to also inspire attendees with ideas for hair, clothes and accessories they can take home and try themselves..

"This is something that Impres Salon wants to do to give back to the community," said Marci Berry, guest services director and promotions director for Impres. "I can't tell you how fun this whole event is, and to see everybody work together is so gratifying. It's the true nature of Traverse City: to be able to pull something like this off for others."

The Zonta Club of Traverse City began granting scholarships in 1996 and has given away more than $100,000 since then to area women. Events such as the Festival of Trees and Gals, Glam and Glitz raise money that funds one or more scholarships each college term, covering tuition, fees and books.

Applications are received via Northwest Michigan College's Bridge Program and the Women's Resource Center, with 90 percent referred from the latter organization. The Zonta Club's Opportunity for Change committee assesses an applicant for potential success in her chosen academic programs.

With the Zonta Club's mission to improve the status of women -- and thereby children -- providing these scholarships is a win-win situation for everyone.

"We provide probably on average eight to 10 scholarships to NMC a year," said Cathie Martin, president of the Zonta Club, "for women who are either returning to the work force or who do not have the skills to support themselves and their children."

"It gets them out of an abusive situation so they can become independent -- that's why we focus on that particular group," Martin said.

The Gals, Glam and Glitz event will be held from 7 to 10 p.m. Friday. Festival of Trees events run from Friday through Sunday at the Hagerty Center; for more information, call 1-800-836-0717.* Tickets can be purchased online at TREATickets.com.