A CATWALK bathed in pink light and scattered with rose petals greeted arrivals to the final runway shows of Oxford Fashion Week on Friday at the Randolph Hotel Ballroom.
The Couture show, curated by Daisy Carling-Rose, featured stunning creations by nine designers establishing a mystical, otherworldly theme.
First to the stage was Face of Oxford Fashion Week Natasha Page, 24, in a creation by Eynsham-based designer Rosie Dennington.
The ‘bird cage’ dress had a ruffled corset front, featured three layers of skirts and was strewn with white rose petals and tiny birds. It was previously modelled by actress Helena Bonham Carter in a shoot by Peruvian fashion photographer Mario Testino.
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Miss Dennington, 23, first had her work appear in Oxford Fashion Week 2009 when she was just 17.
She said: “It’s great to be able to show my designs in my own city.”
London student Chloe Delanney on the catwalk in the Couture Show.
Plus-size model Evie Wolfe modelled another gown from the fairytale-inspired ‘Wild Roses’ collection. Miss Dennington added: “It’s really important to my brand to get more diversity into fashion.”
Other highlights from the Couture show included Irish designer Patrick Casey’s lace bridal gowns, and vast sequinned bows topping off Helen Woollams’ ‘Helluvagirl’ collection.
The Genesis concept show, curated by Natascha Mehrabi, transformed the stage into a blue-tinged ‘ice age’.
The stage became a blue-tinged ice age for the Genesis show.
Models wore striking spaceage accessories, from LED necklaces by Dian Luc to 3Dprinted jewellery by Chloe Mellen and a transparent plastic backpack by Rosa Avil.
A collection from Oxford Brookes University also impressed the crowed with dynamic, loose-fitting garments using a range of materials and streaked with blue paint.
London-based model Ben Raddard, 20, wore a flowing hooded cape and blue eyewear as part of the collection. He said: “This is my first Oxford Fashion Week. It has been so much fun.”
One of the colourful creations on show.
The show ended with six garments by Olga Profutkina.
The final model emerged in a huge ‘cage’ adorned with poetry and hung with beady-eyed dolls and machine cogs, with clogs on her feet.
Director Carl Anglim took to the stage to thank contributors to the week’s events, which culminated in a closing party after the Genesis show.
Oxford Fashion Week returns in November.
For more information and to get involved visit oxfordfashionweek.com
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