Fashion fades, style is forever

Michelle McDonald, who previously had a costume rental store in Eureka Springs, is moving back after leaving in 2008, bringing hundreds of historic clothing costumes with her. She hopes to distribute her clothing for events such as the reënactment of the historic bank robbery, the Zombie Parade, Christmas activities and Mardi Gras.

This month is the 100^th anniversary of the bank robbery in Eureka Springs, usually held after the antique car parade, which is planned Saturday, Sept. 10. But this year the reënactment has been moved to the actual 100^th anniversary date, Sept. 27. The reënactments through the years have involved dozens of volunteers dressed in historic costumes depicting the bank robbery that ended with a shootout between robbers and armed locals.

Five robbers were shot after an employee of the downtown bank triggered a silent alarm. Six residents shot it out with the robbers, killing three and wounding two others. The Sept. 27, 1922, issue of The Daily Times-Echo of Eureka Springs identified Ernest Jordan as the main hero in the shootout after he killed one and wounded two other robbers.

McDonald said she has always particularly liked providing historic costumes for the reënactment including for the vigilantes – concerned citizens who stopped the robbery – and bystanders, including floozies and paperboys and others who get involved.

Costumes for different events will be available for purchase, rental or free borrowing. McDonald can be contacted on Facebook under MichelleMmcdonald.

“I’m crossing my fingers that Eureka will be able to do more events like before the pandemic,” McDonald said. “I have been housing and storing these costumes for twenty some years. I love it when people wear them and the magic comes out.”

McDonald has been living in the town of Excelsior Springs, 30 minutes from Kansas City, Mo. Like Eureka Springs, it has an historic town with a haunted hotel. There are tours involving the history of the natural seltzer water once greatly valued for healing, and a mock bank robbery reënactment during the town’s Gatsby Days.

C.J. Clevenger, 16, of Excelsior Springs is helping McDonald pack up to move back to Eureka Springs. He was involved in that bank robbery reënactment and found his stage fright disappeared when he was wearing costumes.

“I love old clothing and historical outfits,” Clevenger said. “Getting to wear those at this historical event felt amazing. I still have the outfit and I wear it all the time. In general, I go around town wearing stilts. Wearing the historic costumes makes all the difference in starting up conversations with people, going around town and doing tricks. It has been going better since I got clothing from Michelle. I’m really happy Michelle came to this town. And with clothing costing what it does today, I think Eureka is lucky to have her back.”

McDonald said she particularly loves working with children and has a big collection of clothing for them. Actually, she has enough historic clothing that she could dress the whole town.

“I’m in my twilight years, and I’m looking to be more of a curator than a shop or business owner,” McDonald said. She initially moved to Eureka Springs in 2000 after purchasing the Rosalie Tour Home on Spring St.

“If I don’t do something now, who knows what will happen to this collection of vintage clothing? I just have this love and passion for historic clothes. There is a magic that comes when people wear them.

“I’m also hoping to find homes for my clothing for the Christmas season and I have a lot of spring clothes that would be perfect for a spring festival. You are not going to find a prettier place in the spring than Eureka. A spring festival could turn into a really, really great event.

“This stuff is so perfect for Eureka Springs. Anything that has been ruined, like wedding dresses, can be used for the Zombie Parade. A lot of towns don’t know the joy of dressing up and having fun at events. It warms your soul. It’s all about adding to the ambiance and the connections made when strangers compliment you. And, of course, providing photo opportunities for people. Dressing up is such a positive thing.”