WEST COAST COOLER
FASHIONWEEK
After a successful ‘coming-of- age’ 21st season in Spring, West Coast Cooler
FASHIONWEEK returns this autumn for four days of fantastic fashion from 20-23 October,
with nightly catwalk shows and array of fabulous fringe events including Style Sunday as
well as the West Coast Cooler flat lay event, the new addition of the Ju-Tox blogging event,
plus a positive body image seminar for young girls in association with Little Women and a
brand new ‘People’s Catwalk’ event on Saturday 22 October which allows anyone to join the
catwalk and experience a full ‘day in the life of a model’.
Brand manager Laura Blair from title sponsors West Coast Cooler said: “Here at West Coast
Cooler our brand is going from strength to strength alongside FASHIONWEEK, with amazing
campaigns like our #WCCStyleSquad which integrate our audience with our brand activity –
and we can see that the fashion week fans love it! This season we’ve tapped into the
Instagram generation’s love of a good flat lay photo of their favourite outfit and we’ll be
hosting an event to find the most stylish outfit of the day (#OOTD) which could end up being
part of our ad campaign.”
On the event as a whole, director Cathy Martin added: “With a whole host of fabulous
fashion events for all ages and stages in life plus amazing international sponsors including
West Coast Cooler, Senna make up, ALFAPARF Milano Professional Haircare and Citroen
as our official car partner, this event is truly leading in the fashion game!”
Featuring collections from top Northern Irish designers and independently owned boutiques,
Thursday 20 October will see the catwalk come alive with style from FASHIONWEEK
favourites Blush Boutique, Grainne Maher:: Vault, Jourdan, Diamond Dolls, Deux Cara,
Sands & Hall (formerly known as Cocoon Luxury Wear) and Spoilt Belle Boutique as well as
newcomers in the form of accessory brand Zohara, alongside designers Laura O’Hanlon
Millinery, Nor Lisa, knitwear brand ONA by Agne, plus recent fashion graduate Vijeta Lal in
the Designer and Designer Boutique show.
Style proceedings will continue with the High Street Heaven show on Friday 21 October,
bringing the latest looks from the nation’s biggest and busiest high street stores including
Next, Remus Uomo, Marks & Spencer, Oasis, DV8 Fashion and not forgetting everyone’s
favourite lingerie brand Boux Avenue. Alongside these names fashion favourites George at
ASDA will return plus an amazing range retailers from CastleCourt, including Designers at
Debenhams, Miss Selfridge and Dorothy Perkins among others.
Saturday 22 August sees the addition of the Ju-Tox blogging event hosted by James Butler
(AKA James Patrice) [more info to be released!] as well as the new People’s Catwalk, in
which individuals can join the catwalk and spend the day living life as a model – with hair
and make up applied by the experts, catwalk training and a photoshoot with a top fashion
photographer, plus the opportunity to walk the FASHIONWEEK catwalk at the end of the
evening.
Director Cathy Martin explains: “We get requests all the time from people wanting to be
catwalk models or those wanting to do a photoshoot just like a model, so we’ve created a
one-day workshop with a difference and we’re looking for people at all ages and stages of
life – from those in their teens to their twilight years – who would like to come and play at
being a model for the day. We’ve already had plenty of diversity on our catwalks in terms of
size and shape, age and gender, and we want to encourage more of this as we focus on
positive body image and style at any size.
“And speaking of body image, we’ve also teamed up with Little Women to deliver a positive
body image seminar for 7-10 year olds as part of their on-going life development programme
for young girls. This will take place at the main BFW show venue at Life Church and we’re
expecting around 20 girls to attend.”
Lastly, the schedule will close, as always, in sumptuous style with the flagship Style Sunday
luncheon at Deane’s at Queen’s on 23 October. This glamorous four course gourmet
luncheon, which is run in association with Action Cancer, accompanies trend forecasts, a
mini fashion show and a mini masterclass from FASHIONWEEK’s hair, style and make up
partners. Deane’s at Queen’s chefs will deliver a delicious meal while guests enjoy designer
fashion from Blush boutique in Belfast as well as accessories from Stella and Dot. The
charity lunch costs £45.00 per person and places can be booked directly through the
restaurant on 028 9038 2111.
Decoding the details of this season’s trends FASHIONWEEK director Cathy Martin said:
“This is definitely proving to be my favourite Autumn/Winter season to date thanks to the
array of super chic styles.
“We have the grungy Biker Babe who loves to lavish herself in leather and studs, as well as
fashion for magpie types with an eye for a flash of metallic sheen. It doesn't matter whether
you choose full-on sequins or a more subtle shimmer, just as long as you are shining, you are
doing it right.
“Ruffles and flowing frills from Spring/Summer are spilling over into Autumn, but in richer
fabrics and colours. Knitwear is 3-dimensional - with chunky and textured being the key
words here. Velvet’s the key fabric to note this season, so think malevolent glam that is both
fierce and feminine. Wear it crushed, coloured or top-to- toe and you’ll be runway ready.
“A personal favourite of mine is the ‘head-to- toe’ trend, where one colour is worn throughout
the outfit. And speaking of colour, Burgundy is big, as is mink with variations on nude and
blush remaining – and these are easy colours to wear head to toe, but the more daring can
go for head-to- toe gold.
“Taking to outerwear, think British heritage with big, bold and beautiful Mackintosh coats
alongside tweed jackets and blazers plus Sherlock Holmes-worthy capes, so it’s definitely
one of the more sensible trends for our Northern Irish weather.”
Back at the helm of make up trends this season is director Oonagh Boman with her team
from Oonagh Boman School of Make Up sponsored by and creating key looks using Senna
Cosmetics and Dominia Skincare. Taking inspiration from the international catwalks as well
as from the colour palettes of Californian make up brand SENNA, Oonagh’s team will create
a mixture of exciting looks to enhance the fashion on show.
Inspiring audiences alongside this creative team is international brand ALFAPARF Milano
Professional Haircare, which is sponsoring the event with a fantastic new line-up of
hairdressers for AW16. Wenda Davidson from ALFAPARF Milano said: “As an Italian brand,
from one of the world’s fashion capitals, Milan, we are delighted to be back on board with
West Coast Cooler FASHIONWEEK for another season to support this Northern Irish display
of fashion, design, beauty and creativity – all central to the Italian way of life. The very best
local hair teams will be using our loved ALFAPARF Milano products to create catwalk-worthy
looks for some of the best designers and fashion across the country.”
The full show schedule is available online at www.belfastfashionweek.com along with details
of this season’s trends plus links to all participant retailers and sponsors. Catwalk tickets,
which cost £20 (or £30 for a limited number of exclusive front row seats), are available from
the Belfast Welcome Centre on 028 9024 6609 or via the website. Ticket price includes a
fabulous goodie bag and a refreshing West Coast Cooler.
Throughout the events, breast cancer charity Pretty‘n’Pink will collect funds at all shows to
support women after undergoing debilitating breast cancer surgery or treatment. Action
Cancer is the official charity partner for Style Sunday and funds raised with go towards their
breast screening for women aged 40-49 and 70+
Schedule of Shows & Events:
THURSDAY 20 October, 8.00PM - DESIGNER BOUTIQUES AND LOCAL DESIGNERS.
Tickets priced at £20 or £30 for FROW available from 028 9024 6609 or via
www.belfastfashionweek.com
FRIDAY 21 October, 8.00PM - HIGH STREET. Tickets priced at £20 or £30 for FROW
available from 028 9024 6609 or via links on www.belfastfashionweek.com
SATURDAY 22 October, 10am-midday Little Women: The Body Image Seminar. Contact
Little Women for information and booking on their facebook @ littlewomenni.
SATURDAY 22 October, 2.00-4.00pm - SUSHI SATURDAY “The Director’s Cut” at ZEN.
To book, call 02890421509 price £30pp.
SATURDAY 22 October 12-10pm The People’s Catwalk. Come & learn how to walk like a model, and have hair & make up applied as well as take part in a fashion photoshoot with a
top photographer and walk the FASHIONWEEK catwalk. Price = £80 per person to include
photography and images afterwards. To book call BFW HQ on 02890421509 or email
cathy@cmprireland.com
SATURDAY 22 October 8pm The JuTox Business of Blogging event and fashion show at
Life Church. To book call BFW HQ on 02890421509 or email cathy@cmprireland.com
SUNDAY 23 October, 2.00-5.00pm - STYLE SUNDAY in support of Action Cancer at
Deane’s at Queen’s. To book call 028 9038 2111 Price per person = £45
Thursday 18th August saw some of Northern Ireland’s top media, influences and bloggers gather for the launch of West Coast Cooler FASHIONWEEK’s Autumn/Winter 2016 season. Returning to BFW HQ, Bruce St, Belfast attendees were treated with a trends presentation showcasing some of the latest fashion from the events participant high street retailers, designers and designer boutiques accompanied by top tips from make up artist Oonagh Boman and hair stylist Brenda Shankey representing official creative sponsors Senna Make Up and ALFAPARF Milano professional haircare. Guests enjoyed a refreshing West Coast Cooler as FASHIONWEEK director Cathy Martin hosted the event, joined by co-host and Cool FM presenter Rebecca McKinney whilst decoding the bustling schedule for the season ahead.