Belfast Fashion Week

West Coast Cooler FASHIONWEEK Continues Fifth Birthday Celebrations with a Move to City Hall.

West Coast Cooler FASHIONWEEK, Ireland’s multi-award-winning fashion event, continues its fifth year celebrations with a move to the chic surroundings of Belfast City Hall for this Autumn.

Now an established date on every fashionista’s calendar, this season’s events will be part of Belfast City Council's packed programme of activities celebrating the reopening of the iconic building; and the FASHIONWEEK events commence with a spectacular ‘Fashion Through the Decades’ showcase on 29 October. This will be followed by nightly catwalk shows, master classes, exciting exhibitions and the coolest, freshest fashion both on and off the catwalk, making the popular event bigger and better again this season. As usual, there will be showcases from the very best of the high street as well as the hottest local designers and chic boutiques.
In addition to the shows, fashion photographer Khara Pringle will also showcase her ‘Uniform of Fashion’ photography exhibition which includes beautiful and iconic images of TV personalities such as Zoe Salmon, actor James Nesbitt, singer Sharon Corr, Miss Northern Ireland Cherie Gardiner and Snow Patrol’s Gary Lightbody.
Lord Mayor of Belfast, Councillor Naomi Long, welcomed the concept of a 'City Hall for All' and urged the public to support the packed programme of events planned. "We are delighted that West Coast Cooler FASHIONWEEK will be able to showcase the best of what our city has to offer in the wonderful surroundings of City Hall," she said.
"Given Belfast's proud association with the linen and textiles industry, it is fitting that we celebrate our fashion heritage and the creativity that will ensure success in the future too".
To celebrate the move, local dress designer and independent retailer Lizzie Agnew created a Victorian crinoline dress inspired by the Baroque dome. She said: “I’ve based the skirt of the dress on the distinctive copper dome with Verdis Gris shot silk cut into panels to echo the architecture. And for the top of the dress I have recreated the cupola using a dark grey, tight fitting, boned bodice. A scalloped ruffle at the edge with a ‘Toby’ frill at the waist reflects the carved stonework, so overall, the tight corseted waist with highly structured separate dome skirt reflects both the fashion at the time as well as this very solid, though delicately detailed, building.
The event is once again sponsored by the fashionista’s favourite West Coast Cooler, which is also introducing a new colour trend for the season, West Coast Cooler Rose, and the popular new drink will be served as a refreshing accessory to the glamour at every catwalk show. Brand Manager Karen Anderson said: “West Coast Cooler provides a chic and refreshing accessory to the style on and off the catwalks this season and it matches perfectly with the ethos of FASHIONWEEK. We’re delighted to be involved in bringing the freshest trends and hottest looks to the shows, as well as allowing the FASHIONWEEK audiences to sample the new autumn essential - West Coast Cooler Rose. ”
For further information on show schedules, tickets, links to participant retailers and designers as well as the season’s hottest trends, log on to http://www.belfastfashionweek.com/. For show tickets, call the Welcome Centre Box Office on 028 9024 6609