Laguna Beach is one of our Happy Places and when I received an email informing us of an exciting event happening there, we knew it was time to make the pilgrimage (it's 70 miles each way without a direct route).

"The Laguna Beach Festival of the Arts' Runway Fashion Show is a not-to-be missed event! This event features Festival exhibitors who step out of their artistic medium and into the world of fashion. The result will blow your mind with over-the-top creative couture with the twist of all being made out of recycled, reused and reclaimed materials. Festival artists start months in advance in hopes of taking home the top prize and bragging rights.  This event never disappoints, our Festival artists’ creativity and ingenuity keeps it fresh with many surprises!"

And what made it even more exciting? It was free. "This year, visitors who bring a gently used item of professional attire to donate to Working Wardrobes will receive free Festival of Arts admission."

The event was hosted by film production designer Nelson Coates, known for his work on films such as Crazy Rich Asians, Fifty Shades Freed, Flight, and The Proposal. The winners were selected by a panel of judges including Shelly Komarov, former costume designer and founder of the women’s sportswear and dress line KOMAROV; Gerard Stripling, Laguna Beach artist and former costume and set designer; and Pat Kollenda, Festival of Arts Board member and Laguna Beach Arts Commissioner. Wow, right!?

Up for grabs were cash prizes of $1,000 in four categories: Most Creative Concept, Most Exciting Ensemble Inspired by a Fashion Designer, Most Innovative Use of Materials, and Most Glamorous and Elegant Red Carpet Worthy Creation. There was also a People’s Choice Award voted on at the event.

After the competition portion of the show, a gentleman who had designed fashions from various elements, hosted his own couture display. This woman's outfit is made of paint splattered on plastic and pulled off once dried.

This man's jeans are constructed solely of waistbands. Wild.

This year's Pageant of the Masters is titled À La Mode: The Art of Fashion. Several of the items of the Pageant were shared with us, adding another layer of awesome to the show.

During an intermission, the runway models were out mingling so that we could get a better glimpse of the talent involved in their fashion creations. Painter Nancy Swan took home two awards for her spectacular dress: Most Glamorous and Elegant Red Carpet Worthy Creation and the People’s Choice Award.

The history of fashion was hand cut by Nancy and applied to black trash bags to make this. I am still blown away by its complexity and I would totally wear this ensemble!

Glass artist Cody Nicely won Most Innovative Use of Materials for his mermaid with her train of beach trash. Her fins' scales are CDs.

Painter Elizabeth McGhee's dress of discarded socks won for Most Creative Concept.

Printmaker Anne Moore got my vote with her Tea Party dress modeled by her daughter. She won for the Most Exciting Ensemble Inspired by a Fashion Designer. Anne used 310 tea bag packages and a discarded drop cloth to make a dress I would wear anywhere.

Even the jewelry and fascinator were thematic.

And what's an art festival without a little hands-on art?