Day 1: Fashion Cocktails & Una Rodden's Instillation kicks off Belfast FASHIONWEEK AW'13 in Style!
Wednesday, October 16, 2013
In it's 9th year and 16th season West Coast Cooler Belfast FASHIONWEEK firmly remains top of my fashion callander!! Over the years FASHIONWEEK consistently delivers when it comes to it's schedule of shows and events, and this year we not only had the main shows, but lots of fringe event's too!
FASHIONWEEK opened with a bang hosting a glamorous cocktail party: "FASHIONWEEK At The Fitz" for fashionista's attending the opening night's Independent Boutique Show! Having been at the stylish Fitzwilliam Hotel for the FASHIONWEEK launch, I couldn't wait to attend and we weren't disapointed, with their barmen mixing specially themed FASHIONWEEK West Coast Cooler cocktails, as DJ Steven Simpson set the musical tone!
Enjoying a FASHIONWEEK inspired West Coast Cooler Cocktail! (Handbag Jasper Conran).
Then it was off to The Meter House for a very special event indeed featuring established designer Una Rodden! Best known for her iconic designs, working with luxurious fabrics, perfectly draped and cut in jaw dropping creations! Una is one of those designers who perfectly walks the balance between fashion as art, but still rooting her designs in wearable creations designed to make a woman feel fabulous!
Her designs have been seen on many a catwalk, but this time her aim was do do something different! To create a fashion instillation to evoke the mood and feel of her Autumn Winter '13 collection, something which would resonate with her clients, and create a lasting impression with them........and so began her collaboration with visual artist and filmmaker Neil Kerr!!
To say I was impressed was a massive understatement!!! As someone who has been to numerous fashion events it was a true joy to be at something so creative and visionary. It felt as if we had been transported to New York or London as live models posed and moved around the set, while imagery from her recent photoshoot with Neil played on the walls! It had a wonderful edgy feel, due to it's set design but retained an intimate feel between audience and model, allowing us to get up close to see the exquisite detailing on each of the dresses! Ending on a high with the viewing of Neil's specially commissioned fashion film showcasing Una's amazing work!!
While I do love attending all the catwalk shows, it was fantastic this time round to be able to catch up with friends over cocktails and to visit Una's amazing fashion instillation! Her collaboration with the hugely talented Neil Kerr was an artistic match made in heaven and I sincerely hope they continue to work together!
A great way to begin FASHIONWEEK, it was fantastic to have such a varied start to proceedings! Then I was off to the Ulster Museum for the first catwalk show of the schedule featuring Independent Boutiques! (But that's for another post!)
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