Women with big shoulders, big hair, big jewellery and big makeup headed to BMW Coombes Johnston, Tauranga, tonight for bubbles and canapes.
This was no 80s revival meeting, but the launch of Tarnished Frocks and Divas 2017, which will be set in the 80s with the theme-Zoetica, which one of the show's trustee Anne Pankhurst says signals "life, passion and bravery".
Creative director Robyne Dowdall said the designs were inspired by the 80s which symbolised an era when women entered the corporate world and there would be lots of triangles and strong sillhouettes to reflect the strength of women.
More than 7000 people from all around New Zealand are expected to vie for tickets for the iconic Bay show which this year stars foodie and television personality Peta Matthias, Riverdance star Caitriona Fallon, and singer Jackie Clarke.
Pankhurst said there would be five shows from August 30 to September 2, and ASB Arena was the only local venue that could cope with such audience numbers.
Tarnished Frocks and Divas, or TF&D as it is more colloquially known in hometown Tauranga, is a performing arts and fashion show focusing on retro clothing revamped into contemporary styles.
It has been produced in Tauranga every other year for more than a decade and has become a "must-see" event, known for nurturing and showcasing local talent.
All models and performers are required to be 40 and over, and many have never modelled, sung or acted in public before.
Pankhurst, whose busy day job is at the Chamber of Commerce, has been one of the trustees of the show since its original launch and said that the development of the 2017 show started with that gem of an idea in early 2016,
"This is such an exciting process where there is complete blue-sky thinking, and complete freedom to have that idea. The creativity that happens at this point is dynamic and makes the atmosphere electric with ideas."
Pankhurst said that some of the show's "core values" would not change such as volunteers, 40 being the magic on stage number, venue, audience size, clothes, makeup, hair, music, dance and involving the audience in a fabulous time.
"It is truly theatre on the catwalk. What is most exciting is we do not have to do things like everyone else, Tarnished Frocks and Divas can and is an expression of creativity for everyone concerned."
Marilyn Collins-Smith will be back again as the director of this show of many moving parts, and working closely with the creative director Robyne Dowdall.
Pankhurst thanked the support of the local community in helping bring the show to fruition.
"None of this is possible without the huge volunteer support and work and the support of the sponsors and supporters."