Martin + Osa has partnered with the Autism Society of North Carolina for a charity shopping event with cocktails Thursday from 6-8 p.m. at the Crabtree Valley Mall store.

Everyone who goes will get a 30 percent discount during the event. And if you're one of the first 20 guests, you'll get a $25 gift certificate.

The fashion show that was set to take place Thursday as part of Cameron Village's GrooveFest has been canceled. Part of the reason for the cancellation, it turns out, has to do with the sorority sisters who were to be the models in the show. They are on some sort of H1N1 flu virus lock-down.

But there's still plenty of fashion fun happening this week at Cameron Village. The merchants and employees are supposed to be dressed up all week in their favorite fashion from the 1960s.

Hair by Design has found a clever way to help Urban Ministries of Durham through the economic tough times. Each Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. in October, hair designers Wayne and Mia and nail technician Christi will cut hair and do nails at the salon with all proceeds going to UMD, which provides emergency services to people in need in Durham.

To get in on the giving, call 919-419-1963 and mention UMD or 'Cuts for a Cause.'

University Mall in Chapel Hill has teamed up with Dress for Success in the quest to collect gently used women's business attire. The shopping center is looking for suits, separates, scarves, dresses, brief cases, purses and shoes that can be given to women who need clothes for job interviews.

They'll be collecting clothes on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the shopping center. If you donate, you'll get a one-time 20 percent discount good at participating stores.

Get there at 2 p.m., and you'll get to see a free fashion show.

The Pretty in Pink Foundation and the Women Business Owners Network have teamed up for "Honoring You," a fashion show and luncheon Oct. 7 to celebrate National Breast Cancer Awareness Month and to raise money for the foundation.

The show, which will be held at 11:30 a.m. at the Matthews House in Cary, will have 10 winter styles from Doncaster in Chapel Hill. The models on the runway will be members of the network and the Pretty in Pink Foundation.

Tickets cost $20 for members and $30 for non-members who pre-register before noon on Oct. 5. Registration at the door costs $40. For more information, go to www.wbon-cary.org. Or contact Ruth Drum at Crossroads Business Center at 919-424-3801.

It's the first one at the new OP Lauren women's clothing boutique on Salem Street in downtown Apex. The event will be held from 6-9 p.m. Look for special discounts on clothing, refreshments and door prizes. There'll also be free nail painting, and all tips will go to the Western Wake Crisis Ministry in Apex.

Wendy Lemus, the former editor of the Cary News, opened the store a few weeks ago selling career wear, casual wear and active wear for yoga and pilates. She also sells sleepwear and lingerie.

Buy them now for $15 or wait until the day of the event and buy them for $20.

Couture for a Cause is one that you might not want to miss, especially if you love local fashion. ME-3 will pair 20 local designers with a local charity, including Neuse River Foundation, Ten Thousand Villages, Artspace and Boys and Girls Club. Then the designer will create an outfit that best embodies the spirit of the non-profit group. The designer who does the best job capturing the essence of the non-profit gets $250.

The event will be held Oct. 23 from 8-10 p.m. at Marbles Kids Museum.

North Hills is geared up for the arrival of fall fashion with a series of fashion shows, charity events and girls night out events. For a full listing of what's in store for the next few months, go here.

Here are a few of the highlights for September:

Steel Pony trunk show, Possibilities, now through Monday. Steel Pony is known for its distinctive artwork, textures and renegade style.

Sara Campbell trunk show, Cameron Clothing, Sept. 9-10. Sara Campbell is known for "blending timeless and classic design elements with modern fashion sensibilities."

Possibilities 7th Annual Closet Sale. Gently used clothing will be on sale at gentle prices Sept. 12. Clothing not sold will be donated to N.C. Association of Domestic Violence Outreach Stores.

Mollybeads fall show and gift with purchase at Charlotte's Sept. 11-13. Mollybeads are original creations made by Raleigh's Molly Anderson. With every purchase, you get a pair of white pearl earrings.

Girls Night Out, 6-8 p.m. Drink champagne while shopping the fall collections at more than 20 boutiques at North Hills. Look for a red carpet arrival area, paparazzi photo calls and online contests highlighting the 'best dressed' group of ladies in the Triangle.

VK Nagrini and Oxxford Clothes trunk shows, Sept. 18-19, Liles Clothing Studio.

Belk's fall Charity Sale will be held Nov. 7.

Customers are asked to make a $5 donation in exchange for a ticket admitting them to the four-hour sale from 6-10 a.m. They'll get a chance to buy merchandise marked down an extra 15 percent to 50 percent throughout the store. There also will be some savings on brands that don't normally go on sale. Customers will also get $5 off their first purchase of $5 or more.

The tickets will go on sale at Belk stores Oct. 30, however, you can buy tickets form participating local charities in advance of the event. All proceeds from each ticket sold goes to the charity that sells the ticket.

The spring Charity Sale in May raised more than $5 million for hundreds of non-profit groups, Belk said.

Area fashion designers are wanted to show off their creativity in the upcoming Couture for a Cause fashion show and contest.

This one won't be like most area fashion shows. Instead, ME-3, a Wake County non-profit that promotes volunteerism and good works, will pair local designers with participating partner charities (including AniMall, Artspace, Boys and Girls Club and Inter-Faith Food Shuttle). Then designers will create an outfit that embodies the mission, brand and overall spirit of the charitable cause.

Sounds like fun, huh?

Judges will decide who wins, and the winner gets $250.

Even if you aren't a designer, plan to be at the event Oct. 23 at 8 p.m. at Sitti in downtown Raleigh. (Full and fair disclosure ... hubby is an owner of Sitti but he's not involved in the event.) You'll get to see all the charity-inspired outfits on the runway.

Want to sign up? Hit the ME-3 Web site here to find out more. Applications are due Aug. 27 by mail or e-mail. Designers will be notified by Sept. 1.

Have questions? Contact Corie Lambdin at corie@me-3.org.