Sara Sue Fashion Show

You know you’re a born-and-bred Richmonder if somewhere in an attic or a closet your mother has a hat by Sara Sue, the famed designer from the dearly missed Miller & Rhoads Department Store. In bygone years when women wore hats and gloves, fashionable ladies sought out Sara Sue’s custom designs. And shoppers from all over the South would head downtown to browse Miller & Rhoads and catch up on the latest gossip in the Miller & Rhoads Tea Room.

Well, you’ve got one more chance to experience the glory of Sara Sue and Miller & Rhoads. On April 14, Gwen Cooper, owner of Second Hand Rose vintage clothing boutique, will be showcasing her personal collection of Sara Sue hats at a fashion show and luncheon in Petersburg. “Sara Sue just draws people,” Cooper says, adding that the models will all wear black to better showcase the hats.

The entire afternoon will be themed around Miller & Rhoads, Richmond’s beloved department store where Sara Sue’s hats were sold. There will be memorabilia from the store on display and Olde Towne Catering will be preparing some of the original recipes from the Tea Room. Also, in honor of the Amethyst room where Sara Sue’s hats were sold, there will be a drawing for a 1940s Kramer rhinestone amethyst necklace.

The event runs from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. and takes place at Olde Towne Catering, 9 W. Old St. Hats and gloves are requested. Tickets cost $25 and are available at Second Hand Rose or by phone at 733-5050.