So here goes....

Newcastle Fashion Weekender.

Newcastle fashion week has finally arrived, and it has certainly done this with a bang.   Northumbria University has kicked off the open events with a fashion weekender which has included catwalks shows, talks from industry highflyers, celebs, pampering and decadent treats.

The weekender began in style by the Clothes Show’s very own Carolyn Franklin, who looked as chic as ever, wearing a pair of black harem high waisted trousers with a matching waistcoat, the wardrobe staple white shirt, and printed stilettos.

The catwalk shows displayed local talent, showcasing the designs and creations of students at Newcastle College, high street stores including Burton, BHS, Fenwick, Next, the one and only Primark, the online fashion giant ASOS Marketplace and Motel.  The major trends that featured on the catwalks were monochrome, stripes, sports luxe, pencil skirts with oversized cropped tops; think shoulders a good inch past your actual shoulder, very Victoria Beckham.  The American 50’s also dominated the runway, with floral prom dresses, letterman bomber jackets, and demin shirt dresses (something that I wish I could pull off).

Beautiful clothes were not the only entertainment.  Talks were given by fashion industry figures including Louise Wedderburn from C4’s The Human Mannequin, Samantha Bennett from Asos, Vita Taylor (merchandising manager for Motel), and a very special guest, Victoria White, Editor of Company Magazine.   Carolyn Franklin also gave a talk about her most recent project, All Walks. 

All Walks is an inspiring incentive to promote diversity in the fashion industry, to get women, regardless of their size, age, height or ethnicity into the world of fashion.  All Walks is now attracting big name designers including Matthew Williamson, Giles Deacon, and Alice Temperley, to name but a few, showing how important healthy body image in the fashion industry is.  I have to say as a someone who is not a size 6, or 6 feet tall, but loves fashion, it was quite surreal to be around models yet somehow feel like the winner.  For more info go to:

 http://www.allwalks.org/category/about-us/.

To keep all the fashionista’s regularly fuelled The French Oven, which is located in Newcastle’s amazing Aladdin’s Cave, aka The Grainger Market, had a mouth watering selection of cakes, cupcakes, coffee’s, and even a healthy alternative of green tea.  If something stronger was needed Vivello Lounge was on hand, with an extensive and eclectic cocktail menu to suit all tastes.  I have to say my favourite had to be the Marshmallow Martini, and the fact that this was served by a helmeted ‘Daft Punk’ bar tender only added to my enjoyment.

If the fashion and food wasn’t enough shoppers were treated to stalls from Warehouse, Primark, Union, Oxfam, Burton, Asos Marketplace, and Nikki Lissoni, where they could abuse the plastic.  Happy Shoppers.

Northumbria Fashion Weekend did however really save the best for last, with a talk from fellow blogger Poppy Dinsey, CEO of WIWT (What I Wore Today).  A blog set up as a New Year’s resolution, which has turned into a global company.  Poppy gave a very honest talk about life as blogger, the perks (travel, life experience, and of course the odd gift), and the harsh realities, especially in this Devil Wears Prada fashion industry.  The talk was so inspiring that someone like myself, a real person with no fashion degree, but a simple love of clothes and one too many subscriptions to fashion magazines, is finally giving it a go, so here we go.....