Spotlight on Fashion: In Exeter’s ‘Style in Exeter’ (post by Shelley Kelly)
London Fashion Week might get more international coverage in the media but Style In Exeter 2018 is ours – and its right here in our city. InExeter brought the event to Exeter for the third year running and I was lucky enough to be invited to a preview night to get some insider information on the events and trends to be showcased in Exeter.
AmandaMarsden Lifestyle Salon & Spa on Queen Street hosted the event and the beautiful aromas as you walked through the door were worth going along for alone!
It was a great venue for a Style event: their aim is for each guest to feel totally transformed in a special environment. The Salon offers not only hair styling but also a full range of beauty therapies so you can maximise your “me-time” by having a manicure and a facial whilst your colour is being done. It’s a very relaxing, calm atmosphere in Amanda Marsden I have to say. Creativity and flair are key for their stylists and therapists – and these values came through as guests were introduced to some of the key fashion trends for the coming season. As well as delicious nibbles from independent Asian street food deli Red Panda on Gandy Street – don’t mind if I do!
What excited me most was about the clothes which had been curated for the event was the range of colour, texture and pattern on show. It’s exciting, it’s individual and I do think there’s something for everyone. Jill Pollitt, a fashion stylist who has worked on programmes such as This Morning, 10 Years Younger and How to Look Good Naked, introduced us to the key trends. What I loved about Jill was her ethos for dressing women: her job is to dress the person for who they are and helping them to stay true to themselves. My thoughts exactly! Clothes and fashion should make people feel better about themselves, more confident, so let’s see what key trends to look out for this season.
We’ve got Animal print (leopard, zebra, in all colours!); pattern, checks and stripes; lots of colour – mustard, royal blue, red; hats, hoods and headwear; fabrics (tweed, pure cottons, tencel, wool, leather).
If the thought of wearing leopard print head to toe is just too much for you, then a nod to it through a belt or handbag is definitely the way to go. You’re on trend but maintaining your own style. A stripe down the side of a jogger a la hush (in John Lewis). Or a scarlet wrap dress a la Sancho’s . Or something even more statement from @FrocksinSwingTime. Both of these dresses can be dressed up or down. Heels and a bolero cardi for the evening. Boots and a biker jacket for the day. Wear it your way.
That’s really the message from Style in Exeter – pick up on trend and do it your way. It’s about putting a touch of the season’s trend into your wardrobe and if you want more inspiration, then there were catwalk shows in Princesshay which were definitely worth attending.
The event of the week was in Exeter Cathedral on Saturday night. InExeter and Sancho’s hosted The Slow Fashion Show, a night celebrating slow fashion highlighting Autumn/Winter lines from selected independent businesses, showcasing designers and brands from the South West and launching the South West Sustainable Design Award. Blog coming soon all about it!
I’m proud to say that we have a week of Fashion and style in our city – Stay Stylish Exeter!
Pics by Shelley kelly & Chloe Diggle
About the Author:
Shelley Kelly grew up in Scotland and holidayed in the southwest with her family every year. Those childhood experiences stayed with her and she moved to Devon in 2001 to live nearer the sea. Now Exeter is most definitely home. Shelley loves the outdoors and recently completed the South West Coast Path and finds tranquillity of being surrounded by nature or swimming in the sea keeps her sane!
Shelley qualified as a German teacher, has worked for the Scottish Tourist Board, a Holiday rep and more recently in Human Resources in organisations in and around Exeter.
Shelley has a passion for fashion – but in a way that focuses on style and wellbeing; its about feeling incredible just as much as looking incredible! We all deserve that!
