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.

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.