On Saturday, June 14, 2025, the Lakeside Club of Manistee County transformed a high school gymnasium into a celebration of summer style, community spirit and support for educational opportunity. At the Manistee High School, the “County Couture” Tea & Fashion Show welcomed dozens of guests for an afternoon of runway shows, refreshments and a cause that this community believes in: funding scholarships for students in their community.
It is more than a runway show; it is an annual gathering that seamlessly blends seasonal fashion, community support through local business collaboration, and support for young women involved in higher education. The cost to attend the annual event is $20 per ticket, and it includes not only entry to the show but also an adorable afternoon tea, which included classic finger sandwiches, a variety of desserts, and fresh-brewed tea.
A Showcase of Local Fashion
The runway featured looks from a curated list of Manistee County retailers, showcasing warm weather fashion from summer-themed looks— the assortment ranged from linen casual sets to eveningwear. Participating retailers in the fashion show included The Outpost, Maggie’s of Bear Lake, The Piping Plover, MacBeth & Co. and Kellie’s Hallmark Shop. The models also were a mix of community members, representing the unique and diverse faces of women, which added to the individuality and style of pieces.
Given the breadth of runs the show, the emcee did a great job of giving everyone some performance and presentation by walking attendees through the collection while highlighting details in the fabric, color and function. But what truly made the event special was witnessing neighbors, friends, and grandmothers and granddaughters, collectively, take to the stage in varied generations of modes to demonstrate an intergenerational styling. “This isn’t just about what you wear—it’s about who you are and where you come from,” stated one of the event organizers before beginning the show with these remarks.
Support Education, One Look at a Time
At the heart of the event is the Scholarship for Service, a community-funded award presented annually to a female student graduating from Manistee County. More than just an academic scholarship, it celebrates outstanding leadership, dedicated volunteerism, academic excellence, and the drive to uplift others. The scholarship honors young women who demonstrate compassion, purpose, and a vision for change, students who not only succeed in the classroom but also contribute meaningfully to their schools, neighborhoods, and future communities with passion and integrity.
Every penny raised from the Tea & Fashion Show goes directly to the scholarship fund, with 100% of the proceeds going to be help fund the annual awarding of the scholarship. In the last few years, the recipients of the scholarship have gone onto nursing, education, and environmental science careers, while some have engaged their community and returned to serve their hometown.
“This scholarship is about more than financial help,” said one past recipient at the event. “It told me my community had my back. It told me that I was bigger than me.”
A Legacy of Women Supporting Women
Established in 1885, the Lakeside Club of Manistee is one of Michigan’s oldest women’s organizations. Its mission, friendship, education, and civic responsibility has shifted over the years; however, the concept that when women support women, they support communities and society as a whole has stayed the same.
The event this year embraced the idea of community in every way. The tea tables were lovingly designed by volunteers with vintage teapots, hand-stitched table linens, and local florals. Many in attendance wore floral prints and spring pastels to further engage in the spirit of the event.
It was, in every sense, a community celebration of what community looks like in its best light: intergenerational, inclusive, and interpretative teamwork for impact.
Not Just A Fashion Show
As the models took their last walk and applause rained down on the room’s walls and ceiling, it now seemed clear this wasn’t just a fashion show to usher in a season. It was a statement about the very scenario of how style, education, and service could intersect in a meaningful way. The show wasn’t about making trends but honoring tradition, generosity, and using fashion as an empowerment tool.
In an era where fast fashion and influencers dominate the style arena, the Lakeside Club’s approach to fashion is refreshingly rooted in connection. “Sure, we want our girls to feel confident,” one organizer said. “But more than that, we want them to feel seen, heard, and supported”, a sentiment echoed in the kind of fashion insights and stories that give meaning to style beyond the surface.