York Fashion Week struts the catwalk again

From flashy cars, to catwalks, to events and shows York Fashion Week was something extraordinary. With events extending from the 25th - 31st March York had been thrown into the middle of a very busy and significant week.

York to me has always been a small city which hosts some of the most attractive events. Fashion being one of them. Housing a lot of fashion stores there were plenty of lines and brands to show off on the catwalks. So in case you missed this week of fabulous fashion, I'll run through the highlights of YFW and hopefully by the end of this you'll be making that date for next years York Fashion Week permanent in your calendar.

Monday 25th kicked off the week in style with designer bag sales at The Principal and dinner at The Ivy with Scott Henshall. 'Dival Designer Boutique' attended YFW with their array of bespoke designer bags and scarfs, with names such as Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Burberry, Dior and Vivienne Westwood cascading along the many tables it was tough to not add another bag to my collection! Of course, they're all second hand with no wear and still looked pristine and at reasonable prices these bags were definitely a steal. They also stocked vintage styles as well as newbies which balances everything we love about bags plus I know they're a still a lot of us who would rather buy vintage and why not, the bags were gorgeous especially the old Louis'. Monday night concluded with 'An Evening with Scott Henshall at The Ivy'. My favourite restaurant in York has to be The Ivy and at the centre of York it made the perfect place to host such an elegant night event. Scott Henshall, a York-born designer, became Mulberry's Creative Director in 2000. After maturing the fashion house and helping its growth but then went on to collaborate with other major brands and celebs and eventually went on to produce his own apparel. The dinner, which had collaborations with 'The Little Yorkshire Candle Co' who made a unique candle for the event titled 'Valour', was exquisite and with a three course set meal talk of fashion, York and lifestyle diffused across the perfectly set table creating a warm and full atmosphere.

Tuesday 26th was certainly a fashion packed day and night especially for FEMME. From 12pm 'A Journey with Louis Vuitton' was held at The Principal with afternoon tea and drinks Led through the history and timeline of the world renown house the talk was something special especially when you're surrounded in such a gorgeous location as The Principal. The night event however, was the most spectacular. Scott Henshall and Lady Victoria Hervey showcased their fashion designs at Mansion House, the home of the Mayor of York, and it was a truly memorable night. Set within the Georgian house the architectural style partnered with the clothing perfectly. The night began with a g&t with Cooper King Distillery then we were lead to the catwalk room where the apparel was showcased to more than 70 people including various York business owners, the Mayor of York and us! Henshall's clothing co-ordinated trendy dress jumpers, quirky baseball tee's and the cobweb dress, the most expensive dress in the world. The dress out of the whole collection made heads turn, made for the Spider Man 2 premiere it added that extra sparkle to the room. Lady Victoria put her own brand 'Ladyship Swim' on display and honestly they were the most sophisticated bikinis and full body suits I've seen, they were stunning. Partnered with heels the swimwear gave us a sneak preview of what styles are to come in summer including plunged and velvet swimsuits. Her brand certainly matches her personality, stylish and chic. My fave was a halter neck white full length swimsuit with cut out sides that show off the figure so well, perfect for any summer vacation or trip to the beach. The night concluded with words from Scott and Lady Victoria as well as gifts from the many collaborators such as Clockface Beauty, No1 Rosemary Water, Pure Collection and Virtue. I've tried them all already and their products are amazing, definitely worth checking all these local brands out. Henshall ended the night by saying "You don't have to be from London to create fashion you can be anywhere", Lady Victoria also concluded by saying; "Thank you to the organisers, everything has been incredible!"

Lady Victoria Hervey for 'Ladyship Swim'

Throughout the entire week people had been stopping by L.K. Bennett and Monsoon as well as Fenwicks for styling sessions which proved to be a huge success and really got the eye of the people of York. Sometimes personal styling can add that extra bit of something to what you wear and give you new ideas for outfits. Thursday 28th saw The Shambles become a fashion market street giving the famous street a fashion make-over as clothing took over every inch of the market. Vivienne Westwood's shoe and fashion collection were shown at York Castle Museum on Friday 29th, her work and influences were told as we were guided through her life and eccentric life styles and choices. Her exhibition can still be seen there now and is a rarity to have in York due to her political stances and historical changes through fashion. Saturday 30th, The Grand Hotel hosted an evening with John Lewis & Partners who created an exclusive fashion event for York Fashion Week, it was the ultimate fashion fiesta and yet again another elegant evening with presence and canapés.

The entire week YFW placed a hub in the centre on Parliament Street, the container was full of York College fashion students work and were displayed through the windows to view. At night the hub was full of coloured lights to again show the vibrance of the week and highlight the importance of fashion even in the smallest of cities. The week for FEMME although was very busy highlighted the growth of small businesses in York and our community who came together to view some stunning fashion. I highly recommend attending next years as I know this week continues to get better and better every year and who knows what surprises fashion will hold for us next year in York.

Lots of Love,

Brontë Clare x