“VA is for lovers…of style!” exclaimed Ron Cooke from the head of the runway, as he did a twist and then sashayed away to prep the models for the mini fashion show, housed at Jody G of Pizzazz for the start of VA Fashion Week.

Is this guy for real? I thought to myself as I watched him prance like a double-breasted, pinstriped peacock back to the dressing room. I would later find out that he most certainly was for real, especially when it comes to his love of fashion.

When asked about how fashion fits in today’s economy, Cooke replied, “The economy is bad, but people need to feel good. Go out and shop. Get that little black dress. Accessorize and feel good about it!”

Ron Cooke is stylist and Co-Producer of VA Fashion Week, along with Anne Leister, owner of Splash Model Management, who was inspired to start VA Fashion Week three years ago.

“The goal of VA Fashion week is to showcase VA talent in regards to fashion, design, and modeling,” said Leister. “I love to be around creative people. Then I design a show with fashion, models, and music— and make it all work.”

I went to Jody G’s at Pizzazz to get a taste of what was in store for VA Fashion Week. Not being much into fashion myself, (three years ago I only had four pairs of shoes, before a friend saw my closet and took me on a shopping spree. Now I have at least 10!) I was curious to see a fashion show up close, and boy did I get the chance. Judy G’s is a quaint, 1000-square-foot boutique. They had two rows of chairs lined up, face-to-face for the audience, with instructions to not cross our legs– lest we trip a model.  As the models did their thing on the run way, I couldn’t find a comfortable place to rest my eyes. I know that I was there to look at fashion, but I found myself watching the models’ super-intense faces and what to my sneaker-wearing heart looked like somewhat unnatural gaits. It wasn’t until the second time that each model appeared that I finally took a good look at the clothing. Do scowls sell more than smiles? I wondered.

Another goal of fashion week is to help small designers get their foot in the door. One man who hopes to get noticed is Matthew Cook, who has been a custom designer in Freehold, NJ, for over 30 years, sewing custom pieces for characters such as the teacher in the movie rendition of Akela and the Bee. His dream is to one day have his own designs in stores like Saks or Lord & Taylor. Until then, he hopes that his designs will find a home in one of the small local boutiques, such as Jody G’s, which sells jewelry, handbags and contemporary brands, chosen by its owner, Jody. She attends fashion shows, such as Coterie, which is held in New York, in order to determine which pieces she will purchase and sell.

“This next line is called, ‘Thin is In’,” said Cooke. When isn’t thin in?, I wondered As the models came out wearing skinny jeans or short skirts and sheer tops, I whispered to my friend, “Who the heck could wear that, but a model?”

“This is just for the runway; you can wear a shirt under and tights,” she replied.

“Or a bra, I thought to myself,” but her suggestions helped, and soon I was envisioning the clothes as they would fit into my wardrobe: a cute skirt over tights, a feminine shirt that would go good with jeans and heels… but never those skinny jeans: I’m not sure I’ll ever be ready (physically or emotionally) for those.

About halfway through the show the models relaxed and started smiling and throwing coy looks into the crowd. I realized something: Damn, these are just regular girls. They were probably just a little nervous at first.

“Congratulations! Thank you for tonight! I felt like I was in LA, London, or Italy. The way the clothes were put together, if felt European,” said hair stylist Rico Corpuz of Joseph Hair Salon to Cooke.

“I’m just trying to illuminate style in VA,” replied Cooke.

I spoke to owner Jody G after the show and told her about my skinny jean apprehensions. “People come in here all the time and think they won’t be able to wear those skinny jeans. But the fabric is so stretchy and soft that they feel good. I have sizes 24 to 32 and I sell out of them all the time.”

I’m a 30, I thought to myself. Could I wear skinny jeans?

One of the models, who I would learn is an environmental engineer by day and had a great laugh, smiled at me. I stopped listening to Jody and started imagining myself pulling up a pair of tight skinny jeans. I felt them going up smoothly, past my thighs and fitting snuggly over my hips, the button clasping easily. I pictured myself walking to the mirror, and then I remembered, Skinny jeans may fit, but they don’t make my feet any smaller, and size nine doesn’t need any more attention drawn to it.

So I’ll skip the skinny jeans, but the fashion show at Jody G’s made me consider it for a minute, which is pretty amazing.

VA Fashion Week continues through the weekend. Click here for a schedule. The main events are Friday from 6 to 9 and Saturday from noon to 6 at the Sheraton Virginia Beach Oceanfront Hotel. If you are already into fashion, it will be a good time to see some of the latest styles. But if you are style-challenged, like me, you may want to bring a friend who can help.