Staff photo by Clay Schuldt We’re all a little mad around here, but only Katelyn Watje was as mad as a hatter at last night’s fashion show.

NEW ULM — It was a “Wonderland” of Fashion at this year’s Modenschau Fall Fashion Show.

This year’s autumn fashion show was held at Turner Hall and featured style from Gallery 512, Inspired, Bailey Creek Boutique and A to Zinnia Floral and Gifts.

The show started at 6:30 p.m., but guests who could not, and would not, be late for this very important date, arrived over an hour early for the social hour.

This was the fifth Modenschau fashion show held in New Ulm. This fall tradition always brings a crowd. This year over 130 tickets were sold.

This was the first Modenschau show to feature a theme. The theme was “Through the Looking Glass,” which is a reference to the Alice in Wonderland theme.

Turner Hall was decked out in playing cards, large felt hats and tea party accessories. During the runway show the background music featured lyrics referencing the books of Lewis Caroll.

A to Zinnia went a little mad with the theme and featured models dressed as Alice, The Mad Hatter, Cheshire Cat and The Queen of Hearts.

First-time runway model Olivia Owens played the Queen of Hearts. To play the queen required an hour in the makeup chair.

Ashylee Haugan provided her makeup expertise to bring these fictional characters to life. Haugan has been helping with the Modenschau show all five years. She said this one was the most elaborate in terms of makeup, and it was also the most fun.

After the fashion show, afterglow events were held at the boutiques. Guests were invited in to shop after hours and get a jump on fall shopping.

Danielle Fischer Marti, co-owner of Gallery 512, said this was the big season for the boutiques.

“Everyone is getting excited for sweaters,” she said. Marti said this season people were mad for the ’90s fashion. The corduroy and tailored-grunge look was coming back into fashion.

The night’s festivities were not limited to fashion, but included fundraising for Project Lunch Box, a new program developed by the Brown County United Way.

This new initiative provides food for children in the New Ulm school district. Kids who qualified for assistance would be sent home on Fridays with food for the weekend. It is estimated that 265 kids in K-4th grade are in need of food assistance in the public school alone.

Anyone who wishes to support the Lunch Box Project is encouraged to contact the United Way of Brown County.

Prior to the fashion show, a special purse auction was held to benefit the project. Approximately $1,300 was raised to start this new initiative.