Dates set for a Red Carpet Affair

 BATH IN FASHION 2016 BRINGS COLOUR & STYLE
TO THE WORLD HERITAGE CITY
Expect red carpet moments at Bath in Fashion 2016 (18th to 24th April) with a line-up
of stellar designers and fashion commentators including Julien MacDonald, Nicholas
Oakwell, David Downton and Livia Firth. As the fashion pack descends on the World
Heritage City, the week-long programme promises stimulating debate, fast paced
catwalks and animation on the streets and in-store with Bath in Fashion LIVE, a new
element for 2016. Respected editors like Sarah Mower, contributing editor to
American Vogue, Claudia Croft, head of fashion at Sunday Times Style and Sue
James, Editorial Director of Woman & Home return to join the debate.
A Nicolas Oakwell couture gown commissioned by No 10’s GREAT Britain
campaign to showcase British couture design around the globe, is heading for Bath
in April. Created for the GREAT Festival of Creativity in Shanghai, this exquisite
gown, designed for super model Erin O’Connor, took 2320 hours and 90 metres of
fabric to create and is embellished with hundreds of rubies and 200,000 ostrich
feathers, each of which were hand sewn in place by students of the Royal School of
Needlework. Nicholas Oakwell whose dresses have been worn by Helen Mirren and
Paloma Faith will be a guest at Bath in Fashion 2016 in conversation with Hilary
Alexander, former fashion director of the Daily Telegraph. Illustrator David
Downton, who was also involved in the project, will be sharing behind-the-scenes
anecdotes from the world of fashion as he discusses his book “Portraits of the
World’s Most Stylish Women”.
Celebrated Welsh designer Julien Macdonald, known as Fashion’s King of
Glamour, will be talking about his life and work with Colin McDowell. During his
illustrious career Julien held key positions at Chanel and Givenchy before
establishing his own atelier in London in 2013. Julien is among an elite group of
designers whose careers were launched at Graduate Fashion Week which
celebrates its 25th anniversary in 2016. His creations are favoured by red carpet
celebrities including Beyonce, Cheryl Cole and Jessie J. He creates collections for
Debenhams alongside his couture work. Colin McDowell has written 24 fashion
books and is a regular contributor to the Business of Fashion.
Bath in Fashion stimulates debate with special guest Livia Firth, Creative Director
of Eco Age Ltd and the driving force behind Green Carpet Challenge which
catapults sustainable style into the spotlight at the world’s most high profile events.
She has recently selected an Edit from the M&S Autumn/Winter ‘15 collection
demonstrating how integrity is woven into the fabric of the firm.
British Vogue turns 100 next year and to mark the occasion Bath based fashion
writer Professor Iain R Webb has created the very first grown up Vogue Colouring
Book. Inspired by fifties fashion as seen in Vogue, the book features hand drawn
designs of glamorous gowns and dressy ensembles from designers like Dior,
Balenciaga, Givenchy and Chanel. Ian R Webb who confesses he always coloured
outside the lines said “it was a decade that went from black and white into colour. An
era of matching gloves, haughty elegance and hour glass silhouettes”. Bath in
Fashion is working with Iain Webb to create a giant colouring wall.
As the international undisputed fashion bible Vogue has charted the careers of
fashion designers through the decades. Drusilla Breyfus author of Vogue on
Valentino takes a fresh look at the maestro of Italian Couture whilst Charlotte
Sinclair unwraps the world of Gianni Versace in her book Vogue on Gianni Versace
with a window into the Versace lifestyle – the palazzos and parties and celebrity
following.
Liberty marked its 140th birthday in 2015 with a retrospective at the Fashion &
Textiles Museum. Many of the exhibits have been loaned by Cleo and Mark
Butterfield, owners of the C20 Vintage Fashion Archive. They will be talking about
Liberty at Bath in Fashion 2016 with fashion historian NJ Stevenson. Liberty, bastion
of Arts and Crafts, was at the heart of the 20th century's most exciting period in
British design, music and film. Butterfield says “Liberty prints and fabrics
encapsulated 60s radicalism and 70s wearable art, mixing grooviness with the
magical and pastoral to create mesmerising boutique fashion.”
Eminent historian and dedicated follower of fashion Sir Roy Strong will talk about
his lifelong delight in clothes with Ben Whyman from the London College of Fashion.
Strong has bequeathed his extensive wardrobe to the Fashion Museum where the
talk will be staged. Curator and Manager Rosemary Harden will also be treating the
Bath in Fashion audience to a very personal “behind the scenes” tour to view
some of the 100,000 objects which are not on display ranging from perfectly
preserved gloves from the reign of James I to a collection of hats by Christian Dior
worn by prima ballerina Dame Margot Fonteyn and a pair of pristine shoes by
Manolo Blahnik.
Ben Wild talks about his findings in “A Life in Fashion: The Wardrobe of Cecil
Beaton”. Wild says “As a fashion researcher what strikes me about Beaton's dress is
how relevant and contemporary it still is, some 34 years after his death. Designs by
Giles Deacon reveal his influence, as do those of Savile Row tailor Richard James.
Beaton was also an important chronicler of people's dress and his commentaries and
criticisms reveal much about twentieth-century vogues.
The glittering Assembly Rooms will host Bath in Fashion’s 2016 runway shows
produced by John Walford from London Fashion Week with top stylist Rebekah
Roy. The catwalks show Spring Summer 16 fashions “reflect the strength of Bath’s
retail offer” according to Sarah Mansfield, Chair of Bath in Fashion. Sarah continued,
“Bath is a cosmopolitan city, one of the most stylish and elegant cities in
Europe. The festival brings designers, commentators and influencers from the world
of fashion to the World Heritage City. It is now firmly established on the fashion
calendar – a week to showcase current trends and share inspiration”.
Bath in Fashion is managed and funded by the Bath Business Improvement
District in partnership with Bath Tourism Plus and created as collaboration by Bath
businesses to put the city in the fashion spotlight. New for 2016, Bath in Fashion
LIVE maps participating retailers highlighting the best of Bath’s fashion and
accessory scene. Retailers like Jolly’s, one of Europe’s oldest department stores
now operated by House of Fraser will be paving the way with a programme of
engaging and exciting events. Sue James, Editorial Director of Woman & Home will
be in store with her fashion team offering style counsel.
A series of workshops include Wearable Tech by Annie Lywood, The Royal School
of Needlework and Fashion Factory curated by Amanda Riley encouraging
participants to create their own outfits. Bath in Fashion 2016 is planning another
community crochet project led by local designer maker Emma Leith who will
also lead a hands-on workshop.
Fashion Your Future, gives an insight into roots into fashion, with a panel of experts
chaired by Louise Pickles, who leads the acclaimed fashion design course at Bath
Spa University; Bath in Fashion on Film screens a series of fashion-inspired
films at the Little Theatre Cinema; the BathVA Vintage Fashion Fair takes place on
Vintage Sunday at Green Park Station with glam Hollywood hair by Artizan.
The Bath of today was a shaped by extra ordinary imagination, a world class city that
was in the Eighteenth Century both radical and bold. Sarah Mansfield said “For the
21st century this inspiring environment continues to attract inventors, artisans,
entrepreneurs and future-thinkers. It is against this canvas that Bath in Fashion has
evolved over the past six years combining the vision of designers with the creative
energy of the World Heritage City.”
Bath has been fashionable since the Eighteenth Century, when it was a favourite
with celebrity society; and contemporary Bath supports a vibrant retail scene with a
high proportion of independent fashion boutiques retailing niche and designer labels
alongside leading high street fashion brands. Bath’s Fashion Museum holds one of
the finest collections of historic and fashionable dress in the world; and Bath Spa
University’s award-winning fashion design course has developed a reputation for
producing highly individual and creative designers.
Tickets will be on sale from early February. For further information and to register
interest please visit bathinfashion.co.uk.
For media enquiries and images please contact Nicky Hancock on 01225 332299 or
e-mail: { HYPERLINK "mailto:[email protected]" }
Date: 10th November 2015 About The Bath Improvement District Company Bath in Fashion is a Bath BID (Business Improvement District) Company initiative. The Bath BID Company
organises specialist events to raise the profile of the city and attract visitors to support businesses within the
city centre. The Bath BID Company acts as a catalyst to creating a fashion event which is distinctive, unique
and unlike any other in the UK. With commitment to providing support for the business community, events like
Bath in Fashion are born from a collaboration between public and private sector; retailers and landlords and
both independent and high street retailers. Visit { HYPERLINK "http://www.bathbid.co.uk/" }