Last night I attended Cardiff Fashion Week at the Hilton Hotel in Cardiff. Cardiff Fashion Week only began last year, and already it seems to have become a fashion phenomenon( in Wales, at least.) After attending the blogger briefing on Wednesday, I was extremely excited to see the show – and it didn’t disappoint!
The show was styled by the amazing Wenda James-Rowe (whom I met on Wednesday and got a little star struck as she’s most definitely one of my fashion icons.) Her outfit choices and styling – including the gorgeous handbags from emerging brand Luna Amani– were all amazing! What I really liked about the styling was that the outfits on the runway catered for all shapes, sizes, ages and tastes which is something you rarely find on a typical catwalk.
The outfits on the runway came from students at the University of South Wales ( which I was REALLY impressed with), John Lewis, M&S, River Island, Animal, Armani Exchange, Morgan Quarter, Peacocks, Primark, Jane Norman and two emerging Welsh designers (who were my personal favourites) Tempest and Cwtchy Cwtchy (I’ve probably missed some designers out – sorry if I have!)
Both of the Welsh designers have their own unique styles which really made them stand out on the runway – Cwtchy Cwtchy use ‘V’ shape clothing which you will see in the photographs, and Tempest use sequins and beading – every girls dream! It was great to see Welsh designers being showcased on the runway, and the fact that they were probably the best outfits of the whole night it make it even better.
The models had their make-up done by the wonderful guys at E.L.F (which is opening in Cardiff on Tuesday – HOORAH) and was accompanied by some crazy Mohawk hair – which was not for the faint hearted – but worked pretty well!
If you think that fashion shows are boring – Cardiff Fashion Week couldn’t have been any further from the norm! The show began with a dance routine ( to a jazzy version of ‘ Thrift Shop’) and featured dancing all of the way throughout it – even with semi naked guys! Personally, I’m not one for dancing and all that jazz, but I actually really enjoyed it!
It was evident that a lot of hard work went into the Cardiff Fashion Week show from the styling, the modelling, the dancing, the production, the planning and all of the backstage stuff that people tend to forget about. One thing for sure is that it really did pay off, and if that was only CFW’s second year, I can’t wait for it’s third.
Well done everyone, I thoroughly enjoyed myself!
If you couldn’t make it to the shows, there are still lots of fashion-y things going on which you find out about on the Cardiff Fashion Week Website, here.
Xoxo T
Taylor Janway 