BFW Fashion Fair and Fifties fest

As part of the BFW Ready-to-Wear Shows, The Corn Exchange was once again transformed into a fashion fair, with stalls selling independent-designer clothes, accessories and shoes.



Among the highlights was Creme Nouveau's biscuit brooches and necklaces, Hatastic's domino brooches and leather bow hair-bands, MA Jewellery's vintage-inspired trinkets and Now, Voyager's ecclectic mix of brightly-coloured hair accessories and knitted goodies.


Highlighting the current obsession for all things vintage, there were more second-hand stalls than there were those selling original designer pieces, with some gorgeous Fifties-lace swing dresses, leather bags and retro-print cushions on offer.


Always up for a bit of bargain-hunting, I picked up a pair of Fiorelli speckled oversized sunglasses in a Pierre Cardin glasses case for just 50p, a navy leather belt for £2 and an Eighties' Betty Barclay dress for just £10. Score.



My finds added to the freebies I'd already received in the above-average goodie bag - given out to the first 100 people through the door - which included polka dot bow studs from Miss Funkystuff, a L'Oreal hair treatment sample, 20% off voucher for Warehouse, Irregular Choice bag (the only use for which would be to carry wine bottles to a party) and a copy of new magazine Spindle, which celebrates emerging creative talent and features the beautiful Laura Nixon on the cover.


After the fair, and the Spindle and first Ready-to-Wear shows, my friends and I chose The Dorset's 'Feel the '50s' event from the Fashion Through The Decades venues around the city, where we enjoyed a pint to the sounds of a live Rockabilly band, and a hairdresser creating quiffs, as well as the swing dresses, hair scarves, tattoos and denim turn-ups, proved plenty to admire.


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BFW Ready-to-Wear shows

With nine collections to exhibit, the models’ changes at Brighton Fashion Week’s Ready-to-Wear (RTW) shows were fast-paced, and I imagine frantic behind-the-scenes, yet the runway performances didn’t show a hint of it.

While not as electrifying as the Couture Show, the event showcased some exciting emerging talent – even Biba’s Barbara Hulanicki seemed impressed, although it was hard to tell behind those huge dark glasses.

Each collection stood on its own merit, stamped with the designer’s signature style, yet there were numerous examples of the themes currently celebrated throughout the wider fashion community.

Exotic enjoyment


Suited to the season, many of the collections could be packed up, ready-to-wear on holiday. Playsuit Parlour’s light Asian-print kimonos and floral short-suits looked perfect for the beach or better a beach-front bar. And for exotic evening wear it’d be hard to choose between Orleans Designs’ tropical and tribal print silk dresses, Yamama’s cute Hawaiian print numbers and Ailsa’s bright sheer and bodycon designs.


Praise for the past


Taking inspiration from three fabulously fun decades in style – the Fifties, Sixties and Seventies – the RTW show reaffirmed fashion’s special relationship with the past. From Former Glory’s re-worked vintage swing dresses and beaded and sequined shifts and Be Urban Chic’s monochrome heart-print mini and Sixties two-piece dress suit, to Ceci’s bold floppy beach hats and kaftans and Ailsa’s maxi dresses, the styles the Biba generation remember proved far from forgotten by the fashion world. Hints of the Eighties also snuck in through Ailsa’s jumpsuits and harem pants and Former Glory’s OTT prom dresses.


Classic chic


Advocates of the less-is-more approach, Another 7th Day and Kerry Knowles’ chic and simple monochrome collections striped fashion back to highlight the designers' skill in tailoring architectural and artisan pieces. It was all in the strong detail with these two, Another 7th Day using fringing, hoods, waterfall jacket lines and distressed denim and knits to create a focus for the minimalism, while Kerry Knowles’ drapes and architectural detail ensured that the pieces in her unisex suit-inspired collection hung just so.


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