Most style-conscious folk think of Fashion Week as something that only takes place in New York, Paris or Milan.

Happily, that's not the case, as Ventura County residents now have the good fortune of making Fashion Week their own, not only for the sake of artistic expression, but also to benefit AIDS Project Ventura County.

Jennifer Livia, owner of Ventura's Red Brick Gallery and Graphics, was more than willing to assist with hosting duties when the fashion show committee asked for her help. Livia, an artist and recent transplant from San Francisco, said she saw the video from last year's event and was impressed by its artistry and success, as well as the participants' commitment to AIDS awareness.

In addition to the two themed shows — one featuring teen-friendly surf and skate clothes, the other with a more risqué "Cirque du Couture" theme — a number of artists featured in Livia's gallery are donating proceeds from the sale of some of their works.

"I have artists from all over the world in my gallery," Livia said. "Their work runs from sculpture to ceramics to painting to photography; prints, pastels and more."

Although 2007's inaugural fashion event was a one-day spectacle, this year's Fashion Week Ventura is true to its moniker, with five days of activities, starting with a kickoff party at 7 p.m. Wednesday at J's Tapas in Ventura. The party will give attendees a chance to socialize, network and talk fashion. There will be a suggested donation of $7 at the door.

Fashion Week Ventura's founder and creative director, Erika Harding, owner of Ventura's ArchiTexture spa and salon, said she started the event last year in hopes of drawing clients to her salon, but then decided on a more altruistic approach, which garnered an overwhelming response from the community. Harding said that in 2007, she had 30 people working in her salon, getting the models ready for the fashion show and not knowing if it would be a hit or a miss. That first year, the event sold out.

"I've been lucky enough to participate in some of the Fashion Weeks in other places, and this is a unique way to expose some of the businesses here," Harding said. "All the feedback I got was, Wow, this is something cool for the city of Ventura.' We haven't had to water and fertilize it. It's grown on its own."

Indeed, this year's sponsors and participants run the gamut, from the staid to the cutting edge. One of the main contributors is Affinity Bank, which donated $5,000.

The city of Ventura is also lending its support, along with businesses and individuals, including models and makeup artists from the Los Angeles area who are donating their talents for the two fashion shows.

The first show takes place at 7 p.m. Feb. 29 at Red Brick Gallery and will be more youth-oriented, with surf and skate attire provided by WetSand in Ventura.

According to the store's Web site (http://www.wetsand.com), WetSand is " committed to those Core Surf Values that we believe ground the sport; our environment, our history and culture, product design and development, and surf exploration."

The second fashion show will be at 7 p.m. March 1 at Red Brick Gallery. It will be a totally different experience from the surf and skate show.

"The surf and skate night is very specific to that theme," Harding said. "The Cirque du Couture fashion show is more Moulin Rouge-meets-1900s carnivale."

Clothing at the Cirque du Couture show will be decidedly avant-garde, Harding said, and the accompanying entertainment will be a mature PG-13 in nature. Also on tap will be assorted circus "freaks" who, Harding noted, will be more tongue-in-cheek than bizarre. Featured will be a "strongman," who's an 8-year-old boy, and a pair of "Siamese twins" connected by a "single strand of hair."

Some of the models' attire at the Cirque du Couture show will be provided by Diva in Ventura.

"We're a lingerie store, but we also carry costume pieces and club wear," said Beth Santillano, Diva's owner.

Santillano participated in last year's event as well and proudly displays a photo of a corseted beauty and the motto "Because Helping Our Community Never Goes Out of Style" on her Web site, http://www.divapassion.com.

Also showcasing her personal style will be Lindsay Miller, owner of Sassy Sally's in Ventura. Miller, a designer, said she appreciated the opportunity to express herself with her feminine and whimsical designs, which are reminiscent of popular clothing designer and trendsetter Betsey Johnson.

"It's really inspiring to have this event to design pieces for because it gives me the liberty of going even more wild and colorful than what I (create) on a day-to-day basis," Miller said. "A lot of what I do is reworked vintage. I recycle the pieces and rework or detail and embellish them to give them a whole new look. One or more of the outfits will involve some really poufy tulle skirts."

Miller said some of the models will also be wearing T-shirts created by local graphic designers.

Weaver Wines, a tasting room and retail store in Ventura, will provide bottles of wine for sale to commemorate the Cirque pseudo-freak show theme, with specially made labels including "Bearded Lady Bubbly," "Cirque du Couture Cabernet" and "Serpentina Chardonnay." The wines are $20 per bottle and can be pre-ordered at the event, then picked up at Weaver Wines.

"We're donating a percentage of the proceeds to AIDS Project Ventura County," owner Seana-Marie Weaver said. "We're happy to create a product that people are going to use but also that supports charity."

Jay Smith, executive director of the Ventura County Rainbow Alliance, the organization that runs AIDS Project Ventura County, gives kudos to Harding for developing Fashion Week Ventura.

"We have a huge HIV/AIDS population in Ventura County," Smith said. "Ventura Fashion Week raises visibility (for AIDS Project Ventura County) and 100 percent of the income we receive from the event goes directly into customer services."

The program is vital, Smith said, because resources for gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and HIV/AIDS-affected individuals, their families and friends are limited in Ventura County.

"In Los Angeles County, there are between 100 and 200 service providers," Smith said. "But, here, (the Ventura County Rainbow Alliance) does all that work, including a food pantry, legal services, a mental health program and more."

Smith emphasized that AIDS is not, as some still assume, just a "gay disease," with Latina and African-American women the fastest-growing HIV-positive demographic.

For information about AIDS Project Ventura County, visit the Ventura County Rainbow Alliance's Web site at http://www.lgbtventura.org. For more about Fashion Week Ventura, visit http://www.fashionweekventura.com.