By Shane Goodman shane@dmcityview.com

Taking it to the Iowa State fair

Where the Midway becomes the runway for the fair-fashion minded

I love the Iowa State Fair. Sure it takes a strong stomach to swallow fried food with the stench of hog manure permeating the air. But this is Iowa, so set your squeamish feelings aside and do what we do — break out the cameras and treat your eyes to some of the finest fashion trends in the state.

Yes, it’s time for our annual Fair Fashion guide. This is a time when beauty truly does fall in the eye of the beholder. Even Wikipedia struggles to define fashion, stating that it “applies to a personal mode of expression that may or may not apply to all.” That could pretty much sum it up, but the pseudo dictionary Web site takes it a step further in stating that fashion is also sometimes used in a negative sense. And that’s where a growing number of fair-goers seem to fit.

We continue to be amazed by those in attendance who beg to be included in our guide, recalling images of years past and wanting to be part of the celebrity crowd. No surprise here, but many of our best models seem to be around the beer tents. I guess a little liquid courage helps bring these folks down the cat(tle) walk. There’s no sense in writing any more about this subject, as our photos speak loudly enough on their own.

Thanks for reading.

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