I was lucky enough to be invited to the live blogging event at Bristol Fashion Week, which took place yesterday at Cribbs Causeway shopping centre to the north of Bristol. This was my first bloggers' event, so I didn't really know what to expect.
I picked up my blogger's pass from the information centre and joined the queue outside the pavilion. Before long we all moved inside where there were complimentary drinks and snacks. Any platinum or silver ticket holder were ushered through, and once they were in the seats, the rest of us were shown through.
River Island were first up. The fashions were a little edgy, as you'd expect, with graffiti and the season's favourites of tartan and red.
After the River Island section, Mark Heyes and Andrew Barton took to the stage, to explain how the next hour would pan out and keep the audience entertained.
The next segment was from John Lewis, featuring dresses made from dark floral materials, which will be one of the season's key looks.
After John Lewis came womenswear from Wallis, featuring little black (or purple) dresses, with jewellery from Accessorize. Don't worry about the first model, she hasn't got a nasty eye infection, there was a pirate theme.
Marks and Spencer were up next with plenty of animal print, alongside jewellery from Ernest Jones and sunglasses from Sunglass Hut.
The J D Sports section was very different, with models banging (and sitting on) oil drums. The sportswear looked good though, almost enough to get me to the gym.
In complete contrast, CC Viyella and Austin Reed came next, bringing a little class and elegance to the show. Not a shop I'd ever been in, but having seen their collections, I may nip in for a browse around.
The next section was the model makeover. The team had identified a model who'd lost her confidence after having a baby recently. She looked better in the 'before' photo than I do when fully made up, so I can't believe they had too tough a job! She was made over and escorted up and down the runway, to show off her outfit. Nice red jeans!
Ann Summers was always going to be a tricky one. There were a few murmurs of discontent that the girls were in their underwear and flimsy lace dresses, whilst the men were in suits from Next, but hey, I guess this wasn't the time or place for an animal thong.
John Lewis were back on next, with plenty of little red (and blue) dresses.
They were followed by Fat Face doing what they do best, casual wear.
Lipsy glammed things up with their party wear, together with more menswear from Next.
Marks and Spencer were the last show on the catwalk, with their winter whites and a ballerina.
The show finished with outfits from a number of retailers, all showing season's key features of red and tartan. The model in this first one is stunning, who says that redheads shouldn't wear red??
With that, the doors opened and we headed off to collect our goody bags. I enjoyed the show much more than I'd expected to, and I'm hoping to be invited to the next event were the Spring / Summer 2014 collections are previewed.
If I had any feedback on the event it would be that it was a
little frustrating as the first two rows of seats were taken up by the
platinum and silver ticket holders, and the space at the end of the
runway reserved for people who were working at the show. As such, it was
difficult to find a spot to take half decent photos from. I'd have hoped as a live blogging event, there'd be a spot put aside for bloggers who want to take photographs. If anyone can let me
know if there is a way of getting a coveted end of runway spot, I'd be
very grateful! It was also a little odd that the health and safety type
announcements in advance of the show told the audience not to use
unauthorised cameras and to turn off phones, which seemed an odd
instruction at a live blogging event. Good job we ignored them!
I hope you've enjoyed looking through the photos, if you've seen anything you want to buy everything should be available from the aforementioned retailers. Equally, I'd love to hear what you think of the key looks for the season.
