Savage Fashions

Möda Provocateur

5:45 p.m., Sunday, March 2

Tucson Convention Center Grand Ballroom 260 S. Church Ave.

628-223;saafmoda.saaf.org

The Southern Arizona AIDS Foundation isn't playing it safe with the 11th annual Möda Provcater, a fundraiser that gives artists full artistic liberty to express themselves in what is described as "not your grandmother's fashion show."

"Expect the unexpected," said Monique Vallery, the event director. "We have a little bit of everything for everyone."

The show is staffed entirely by volunteers, including the models, designers, performers, artists and tech and security teams.

Salons including Avalon for Hair, Skin and Nails; Salon Nouveau; Ulta; and Village Salon will contribute their skills. BreakOut Studios and Artifact Dance Project will perform. And on display will be the winning avant-garde fashions of Tucson designers from the annual Project Möda.

Savage Botanicals, which has been seen only in Las Vegas Fashion Week, will make its Tucson premiere with 10 fantasy couture dresses that were designed by local and regional florists. "They are made of primitive botanicals or anything you'd find in a florist's tool kit," Vallery said. The designs incorporate flowers, feathers, plants and more to create the illusion that the dresses are living beings.

Vallery said the goal of the event is to help to break down the stigma surrounding HIV and AIDS, and also to change some minds about fashion shows. "With the show it's that same kind of thing," she said. "We want people to break down the stereotypes and the stigma of going to a sort of stuffy elitist fashion show and see there's so much flavor and such diversity in the show."

Tickets are $40 and are available online.