TV star Joey Essex meets fans at The Clothes Show in Birmingham during Day 3 of the event (Photograph: Adam Yosef)
Thousands of fashionistas flocked to the Birmingham NEC over the weekend to be a part of the city’s final Clothes Show extravaganza.
Drawn in by the bustling fashion stands, the glitz and glamour, the eye-catching catwalk displays and the many celebrity appearances; attendees have been flooding to the exhibition venue since Friday, when the show opened at 9am.
After 28 years of showcasing live fashion and designer brands – most of which were hosted in Birmingham – The Clothes Show is saying farewell to the second city as it prepares to re-launch in Liverpool in July 2017, as the rebranded ‘British Style Collective’. The newly curated show will have interactive attractions and shows peppered across the northern culture capital at several venues, and hopes to bring in a wider audience and more upmarket brands.
The Clothes Show brings together high street and high end fashion alongside music, dance and celebrity (Photograph: Adam Yosef)
On until Tuesday 6th December, the 2016 show is being hailed a huge success as it bows out of Brum. Queues at trader outlets and designer boutiques have been ample as visitors aim to grab a bargain, while fans have been waiting patiently hour after hour in the hopes of grabbing a selfie and autograph from their favourite TV stars, from Joey Essex and Jamie Laing to Megan McKenna and Binky Felstead.
Joey Essex poses with fans at The Clothes Show 2016 in Birmingham (Photograph: Adam Yosef)
Reality TV star Ferne McCann meets fans at The Clothes Show in Birmingham (Photograph: Adam Yosef)
Leanne Brown and Chantelle Heskey have a browse through fashion items at The Clothes Show 2016 (Photograph: Adam Yosef)
Fashion expert and commentator Caryn Franklin has been a part of the show since its early days and was a presenter on The Clothes Show television programme.
Explaining the show’s legacy, she said: “When I began presenting the BBC’s Clothes Show as Fashion Editor of i-D Magazine back in 1986, I had no idea it would have such a far reaching effect and long-term impact on public perception of the fashion industry.
Fashion expert Caryn Franklin at the final Clothes Show live event in Birmingham (Photograph: Adam Yosef)
“Our approach to showcasing high-end designer fashion alongside artisan and high street product, together with personal and homemade creativity to celebrate all body types, ages and tastes, caught the imagination of the nation and beyond.”
Among the now-famous models who were first discovered at the show were Erin O’Connor, Oliver Cheshire, Sami Rollinson and Rosie Tapner.
The main super stage at The Clothes Show, held at the NEC in Birmingham (Photograph: Adam Yosef)
Beauty, make-up and modelling is a key part of what The Clothes Show has to offer (Photograph: Adam Yosef)
Miss Great Britain 2016/17 Ursula Carlton was at The Clothes Show in Birmingham (Photograph: Adam Yosef)
On the relocation and rebrand, Caryn said: “We know we need to ramp up the experience because it’s no longer about clothes.”
The show has also become just as well known for launching the careers of household names such as Cat Deeley and Vernon Kay.
After 27 years of the live show, The Clothes Show is moving to Liverpool for 2017 (Photograph: Adam Yosef)
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The Clothes Show is on at the NEC Birmingham until Tuesday 6th December. Find out more at: www.clothesshow.com
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