There’s nothing like a brightly lit catwalk displaying moving pieces of art – art you can wear! Bright colors and shimmering fabrics dancing on the runway. New York sees it all the time, but Brookhaven will get to be the audience for this show: Susan May, owner of Susan’s Shoppe in Brookhaven, has organized Southern Fried Fashion, a runway fashion show emceed by Barbie Bassett.

The show will take place Thursday, June 27, at the Lincoln Civic Center. Vendor booths will begin at 6 p.m. and the show is at 7.

“This will bring people in from all over Mississippi and they can shop Girls Night Out before the show,” said May.

Vendors and models from nearly every county in Mississippi will be in town that day and May believes this will benefit the chamber-sponsored shopping event.

“The same night as Girls Night Out seemed like a great idea to get people into Brookhaven that night,” said May.

May’s store, Susan’s Shoppe, will be participating in Girls Night Out. She expressed the need for businesses to support all chamber events.

Modeling the fashions for the show will be Miss Hospitality contestants and Mississippi High School America contestants, along with anyone a particular store wants to model their looks.

“I want to establish Brookhaven as a fashion Mecca for Mississippi,” said May.

September is Fashion Week all across the nation. May wants to have photos from the show for the big week in September. The theme, Southern Fried Fashion, will reflect the fall and other fashions.

“In fall, we start thinking about new clothes and tailgating,” said May.

Two-legged creatures won’t be the only ones strutting on the catwalk, but Brookhaven Animal Rescue League will have four-legged cuties on the runway, as well. BARL will benefit from the proceeds. Tickets are $10.

Also benefiting from the proceeds will be the 3-D School for dyslexia in Petal and the Mississippi High School America scholarship fund. The 3-D School is privately funded, and it is very expensive for children to attend.

Fashions being modeled will be presented by Susan’s Shoppe in Brookhaven, Repetitions in Brookhaven, Friendgirl Things in McComb, Frolic in Summit, Dazzlin Dancewear in McComb, Squire’s Tuxedos in Flowood, Eve Marie’s in Hattiesburg and Fetiche in Hattiesburg. Repetitions will be doing all the décor for the show.

Make-up artists and hairstylists from the around the state will help style the models backstage and may also have booths.

Entertainment will be provided by Lorin Lewis’s studio.

May praised Lincoln Civic Center Director Quinn Jordan for his support and help in getting everything ready.

Looks seen on the runway will include summer fashion, upcoming fall fashion and formalwear for homecoming and pageants in the fall. Men’s and children’s looks will also be represented. Little girls as young as four will be modeling for the children’s wear.

May could’ve held the show in Hattiesburg, but chose her home, Brookhaven, instead.

“I really want to bring more people into Brookhaven. Before the recession hit, Brookhaven was known for all the fabulous places to shop,” said May.

Now, a lot of new stores have come and are coming in.

“To me, it’s time to reintroduce Brookhaven as a shopping Mecca – a destination,” she said.

May said she knows the merchants of Brookhaven have full support locally, but wants out-of-towners to make Brookhaven their shopping destination