ON THE COVE Sirens from page All talent with offices in Detroit, Chicago and Los Angeles. "I'd like to think I helped the auto show culture evolve out of T&A to a place of professional respect:' she says. This fashionable model for the 1989 Pontiac Grand Prix sees all kinds of people in the auto show audience all day long, including mothers who use the car's back seat to change diapers. Designing Woman Clothing designer, Shari Barnett, creates model 'look.' Robin Schwartz Special to the Jewish News ust like a dazzling color or paint job on a glossy new car can wow the crowds, the outfits the auto show models wear are designed for maximum impact. From gowns and dresses to smart-looking suits, their wardrobes cre- ate an all-important first impression, grab attention and make a bold statement about the image of each automaker. Designer Shari Barnett, 45, of Bloomfield Township is the woman behind many of the looks you'll see on the auto show floor. The wife and mother of three children, Zachary,15, and twin daughters, Sasha and Ariana,12, is the wardrobe manager for Bingham Farms-based Productions Plus. She purchases and custom designs clothing, jewelry, accessories and even out-of-the-ordinary costumes, with a keen atten- tion to detail to fit each car maker's needs. "The wardrobe is another design aspect of their display," Barnett explains. "There's so much that goes Al2 Januarys 2009 ,,IN Taylor Jackson of Birmingham, Shari Barnett of Bloomfield Township and Stephanie Wohlgamuth of West Bloomfield into it. It's so specific. We're looking at brand identity, the target market, what age group they're shooting for, what colors, fabrics and textures are primary for their display." Changing Times Over the last century, the auto industry has undergone many dramatic changes. Krevsky's book takes readers back through time with dozens of rare photographs and automotive ads from 1900-2007. Many of the images are from the National Automotive History Collection (NAHC) at the Detroit Public Library; others are from private collections and corporate files. Some have never been displayed before. "They were really fun to find and go through;' Krevsky says. "I could have done 10 books because there were just a pletho- ra of photos." On one page, suffragist Alice Snitzer Burke is seen changing the tire on a 1916 Saxon; on another, a dancer is perched like a hood ornament atop a 1927 Packard; 40 years later, three models in colorful mod dresses are pictured standing with a 1967 Camaro; a 2005 photo shows a golden concept car from a Czech automaker out- shined by two scantily clad models in hot pants. The book is also filled with behind- the-scenes stories. Some are humorous; Barnett manages a team of 20-80 people work- ing to outfit about 50 models for Detroit's North American International Auto Show. She says Toyota's product specialists will stand out this year wearing custom red jackets. Male models will wear black suits and red T-shirts. The Lexus team will be sporting a collection by designer Robert Rodriguez and custom jewelry made from Lexus tailpipes. "They need to be professional and stand out," Barnett says. "They need to look like the brand. They need to be approachable and look fantastic at the same time." Barnett grew up in West Bloomfield and attended Parsons, The New School for Design in New York. For 13 years, she designed children's clothing for Troy- based Kmart before joining Productions Plus four years ago. "I've been really fortunate to continue my design career in Michigan," she says. Today's rough economy adds an extra layer of responsibility for the wardrobe manager. Barnett must work with reduced budgets and also be mind- ful that the general public may be turned off by high priced, over-the-top fashions. "In the past, representatives for one of the luxury car makers wore head-to-toe Gucci. But, we're think- ing outside the box this year and coming up with new ways of doing things," she says. "In a depressed mar- ket, I'd like to think that we're bringing cheer to some- body. Whether it's the wardrobe, whether it's the cars, anything positive that brings the public into an auto show is something we're proud to be part of."