Beverley Fashion Week concludes with catwalk show at racecourse

Beverley Fashion Week concludes with catwalk show at racecourse
BEVERLEY Fashion week came to a spectacular close at the racecourse, with models showing off boutique brands from across the town.

The week celebrated designers of all kinds – from long-established clothing institutions to those with work on the catwalk for the first time.

It was dreamt up by Michelle Blackford, of Beverley-based Pink Elephant modelling agency. She said the week had surpassed her expectations.

"It's been a good week," she said. "Since the launch on Monday night, everything has just been great.

"We did a mobile catwalk through Beverley town centre on Wednesday and that created a buzz and got everybody talking. And the finale was lovely."

East Riding fashion highlight the Journal Ladies' Day is just weeks away and Michelle said visitors took advantage of the finale's clothing stalls to prepare their outfits.

"I noticed people looking at the fascinators and admiring the dresses and the jewellery as well," she said.

"Everybody is getting kitted out for Ladies' Day."

Throughout Saturday's finale, models came onto the catwalk to show off clothes from Beverley designers.

Several hundred people turned out to watch and browse through dozens of stalls in search of a fresh look.

"The beachwear has been the biggest talking point," Michelle said.

"And maybe the tweed as well, because tweed is really back in fashion and it does suit this area."

Models showed off Oilyrag Beachwear's bikinis.

The company's creative director Kate Briggs said her stall had been busy all day.

"We did well," she said. "People have really loved it.

"It was colourful and bright and people really liked our stand.

"We had lots of interest and we're definitely thinking of doing some more shows."

Kate started her career as a stylist in London before deciding to take high fashion to the East Riding.

"We want to bring something unique to East Yorkshire," she said.

Emma Wilson is much earlier on in her career.

She watched nervously from the side of the catwalk as her vintage- style brand VirginRebel

"This was my first fashion show," she said. "I launched my label at the finale and I'm really happy – I had lots of interest."

The designer is offering clothes made to order.

"I make bespoke stuff, so if someone has something specific in mind I will make it for them," she said.

"I can do bespoke jewellery, iPhone cases, mixed-up shoes – I'll bling up shoes to make them very current."

She said the week had been a success from start to finish.

"Michelle's been fantastic and very professional," she said.

"This is the first time she's done it and it's been great."

Although most visitors were from Beverley, fashion fans headed to the finale from across the East Riding.

Sue Webster came from Goole for the day, and spent five hours browsing traders' stands.

"We really enjoyed it and we thought it was very professional," she said. "The dancers were superb."

"I bought scarves, a bracelet, a necklace and Oilyrag beachwear, and we took a lot of cards for future use."

Sue won a competition for free entry into the show by commenting on the Beverley Fashion Week Facebook group.

"It was been really good," she said. "The only problem is there isn't a cashpoint in the racecourse and we would have liked to spend more."

High fashion was not the only thing for sale.

Nicola Fash was manning a stall for her mum Karen, who owns Beverley business Minster Cakes in Highgate.

"We didn't sell much but there were a lot of people who didn't know about the shop and said our cakes were beautiful," she said.

"We had lots of really positive comments – lots of people took cards and saw the cakes."

She said the week had given small businesses a boost.

"It was good for local businesses, because people didn't know a lot of these stores came from Beverley," Nicola said.

"It just shows what there is. I think Michelle has done a lot for the little shops that people don't know about.

"It makes you a lot more aware of the shops that don't necessarily have big stores but sell some really good things."