A complete new outfit - including accessories - for $10?
The Wood County Historical Society proved it's possible last week when 10 models presented outfits ranging from high business fashion to a casual weekend at a beach or park.
The Poor House Fashion Show, a play on words referring to the center's original existence as the county "poor farm" for indigent residents, attracted a packed house Thursday for the center's April tea with its timely economy-minded theme.
The program was largely the brainchild of Bowling Green State University juniors Brandy Rosebrock and Lindsey Mitoff, both tourism and event planning majors who have been working on the show for several months.
"It was really hard finding complete outfits to total $10, but we did it," Mitoff said.
And they mostly managed to stay local, hitting paydirt at stores such as Dollar General and Wal-Mart, as well as new-to-you clothing sources like Goodwill and the Salvation Army.

The "Tea Bags," a group of nearly a dozen female volunteers who produce the delectable finger foods and flavored teas for the museum's near-monthly teas, served such goodies as egg salad and ham finger sandwiches, blonde brownies and a tasty morsel called Miniature Pavlovas with Raspberry Mousse - a decidedly non-poorhouse menu.
Rebecca White-Schooner, one of their number, then introduced the show by holding up such 1930s-reminiscent props as a penny jar, clothing made from actual feed sacks, and a patchwork quilt made of fabric squares from worn-out clothing that could still be put to good use.
"Many items of clothing were made with the idea that several people would wear them" in sequence, White-Schooner pointed out, including boys' slacks that could be let out or shortened, as the need arose.
The unofficial motto of that decade clearly was "waste not, want not" - an attitude that's coming around again in 2009.
Models included historical society volunteers Millie Broka, Tim Gaddie, and Ruth Steele wearing formal business attire including a red blazer with black piping, along with board president Edie Olds in a pale blue and yellow flannel PJ and robe combo.
Many of the other models were college friends of Rosebrock and Mitoff, including Mallorie McKimm, Chris Partridge, Abby Goldsmith, Marcia Rosebrock, Mindy Sluss and TJ Moscato.
The fanciest number was a dressy black halter dress with white band criss-crossing the empire waist, and a rhinestone brooch. It truly was hard to believe $10 could buy all that.
Also pretty as a picture was a floaty rose and pink print polyester dress from the Salvation Army, described as "great to wear on a stroll through the herb garden" behind the museum.
One of the young men elicited applause and a few wolf whistles in his dressy dark green shirt, tie and khakis. Another of the gentlemen went semi-casual in a black and tan rayon print shirt, khaki shorts and brown sandals - a camera slung over his shoulder.
Model Marcia Rosebrock looked ready for a job interview in a smart black pinstripe pant suit described as warm-water washable, as she twirled a sturdy black umbrella.

BGSU student Mallorie McKimm models at Wood County Historical Center. (Photos: J.D. Pooley/Sentinel-Tribune) Top Photo Caption: BGSU student Marcia Rosebrock models at Wood County Historical Center.