By Moya Tobey

West Michigan is home to a number of fashion boutiques which are scattered all around from Grand Rapids to Holland. Unlike larger cities such as Chicago or New York, our local boutiques aren’t all in one place. This can make it difficult to even know what’s in the area. Liz Haan, Founder and owner of Marie La Mode, saw this problem and decided to do something about it with an event that brought all the boutiques together in one place for an evening of celebrating local fashion: Boutiques of West Michigan. 

“We’re here because we want to bring the fashion scene to Grand Rapids,” Haan expressed. 

On May 4, the second annual Boutiques of West Michigan Fashion Show will be held at DeVos Place, with 19 participating boutiques from across West Michigan. The doors open at 6 pm and the fashion show begins at 6:30 pm. According to Haan, there are three rows for viewing which will allow a better look at the fashion modeled on the catwalk. Immediately following the show, attendees can shop at the booths set up by the various participating boutiques. A cash bar will also be available.

All ticket proceeds for the event will go toward Mackenzie’s Animal Sanctuary.

“We’re all about giving back,” Haan explained.

Hann harbors a love for dogs which led her to choose Mackenzie’s as the benefactor for the event. Mackenzie's is a no-kill shelter that helps dogs become more adoptable.  When they intake a new dog, the animals are rated from "A-D" in order from "fully-trained" to "needs training." The employees of Mackenzie’s train all the dogs to bring them up to "A." Their canine enrichment program, designed to help the dogs maintain their mental, physical and emotional health, has been continuously recognized by the ASPCA.  In addition to all proceeds going to Mackenzie's, attendees are encouraged to bring items, such as dog toys, dog beds, treats and cleaning supplies, to donate. Representatives from the shelter will be present to educate attendees on their programming, and, you might just see a few furry faces walking the runway.  Click here for ticket information.

What: Boutiques of West Michigan
When: May 4, 6 — 10 p.m.
Where: DeVos Place, 303 Monroe Ave NW
Cost: $35