Few Pittsburghers realize the number of talented local fashion designers, some born here and others who moved to Pittsburgh from elsewhere.

But Tori Mistick is trying to change that.

Ms. Mistick, herself an emerging designer, and 15 other local designers created custom looks for the fourth annual Madcap Masquerade, a "zany Halloween bash" sponsored last Saturday by UPMC Health Plan. "Carousel Couture," a fashion show that's part of the event, was inspired by the carousel at the renovated Schenley Plaza in Oakland.

Eight of the 16 garments in the runway show, which could be altered within an eight-size range, were auctioned to guests afterward. Half the proceeds went to the designer and half were donated to the event's beneficiary, the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy.

The event is a chance for local designers to show off their skills to a wider audience while supporting charity, said Ms. Mistick.

"It really is couture," she said.

This year's theme was lots of color, embellishment and detail, and designers tailored eye-catching outfits to their individual models.

Brittney Thieroff of Avalon created a sort of modern Marie Antoinette look: a blue-and-gold corset with quilting detail over a black-and-white chevron-patterned mermaid skirt with blue tulle at the bottom. Then there's an exaggerated iridescent ruff around the neck, and the skirt's modified bustle lit up at the end of the runway.

The North Hills native, who graduated from New York's Fashion Institute of Technology last year, described her Babylove Design brand's aesthetic as "an intelligent take on sexy for women who like to take a bit of a risk." While her looks don't bare much skin, she said, they are for women "with a sense of style and very good sense of self ... and don't dress according to store mannequins."

Zoe Collins of Sharpsburg, designer for Threadneedle Street, created a unicorn-inspired white dress of taffeta, tulle and organza embellished with metallic trim, gold accents and brightly colored faux gems.

Her approach to design for such events is to get acquainted with the customer, create a pattern for the outfit and then "sculpt" fabric into a custom look. Over the past two decades, she's done some design for men and children but specializes in women's ready-to-wear.

"I work on human interest and spiritual influences of nature, man united with nature," said Ms. Collins, a native of Burlington, Vt. "I believe that people should be comfortable and look comfortable. I don't follow fashion because it's not working for most people."

The other local designers participating were Carl Williams, Emma Shutko, Karen Page, Kiya Tomlin, Marla Parker, Mary McVay, Nicole Scarpone, Richard Bryan, Lets Get Trashed!, Jennie Canning for Diondega, Nami Ogawa for ZETO, and Tereneh Mosley for Idia'Dega.