Yeovil Fashion Festival sees scores of models strut their stuff

HORDES of models assembled to strut their stuff showing off the latest trends Yeovil had to offer last week.

Yeovil Fashion Festival opened with a bang on Wednesday at Chicago Rock, on Stars Lane.

An army of models, flanked by stylists and assistants prepared back stage to flaunt a host of clothing and accessory collections.

Mayor Mike Lock attended the event with mayoress Pauline.He said: “I was amazed at the huge range of clothing at reasonable prices on offer in Yeovil. “It was a great event which is very important for the town and I’m pleased it was a success. I look forward to the next fashion festival and hope even more people continue to support it.”

Stores which displayed during the festival included Marks and Spencer, Beales, Oasis, Miss Selfridge, Apricot, Wallis, Dorothy Perkins, Evans, Monsoon, New Look, Laura Ashley, Peacocks, Edinburgh Woollen Mill, Primark, Roman Originals, Quiz, USC, Eleanor Florence and River Island.

While the Western Gazette’s Slim2Win competition winner Charlotte Swaffield, of Yeovil, set of her new look by modelling a black cocktail dress and accessories for BHS.

She said: “I was quite nervous but it was a great experience which I really enjoyed and I loved the outfit. “And since the competition I feel a lot more confident.”

While mum Jenny Rainsbury said she was immensely proud to see her daughter on the catwalk.

Lucy Haines, 22, of Yeovil, was picked as the best dressed guest during the evening, winning a luxury pamper package worth hundreds of pounds from Beales.

The prize includes £200 to spend in Beales, pampering for the Miss Haines and a friend, a personal shopping assistant, a hair cut and blow dry and salon treatment, and makeovers in the beauty department.

Miss Haines said: “I feel privileged to win and surprised. I’m really happy and excited to enjoy the prize. I always like to get dressed up but once I heard about the prize on offer I pulled out all the stops to make a special effort.”

While Julie Thomas, of Yeovil, snapped up a pair of flights from airline BMI as part of a raffle which included a huge range of prizes from local businesses.

Mrs Thomas, who said in the past she has only been lucky enough to win a tin of onion soup, now has the chance to fly from Bristol direct to Frankfurt, Hamburg, Milan, Munich or Aberdeen, with speedy check-in and free luggage.

For pictures see this week's Western Gazette.