Fashion City York festival sneak preview

PERCHED on the base of the bellboy trolley, she kicks off her shoes and slumps her face into her hands. It looks like the end of a long night – with the next stop, breakfast at Tiffany’s.

Quick change, and she lowers her Chanel sunglasses to wink at the doorman as she breezes out of the grand hotel into the bustling city.

From these images, you could be forgiven for thinking we’d decamped to New York for our fashion shoot.

But who needs the Big Apple when there is five-star luxury to satisfy the most famished of fashionistas here in York, particularly when you can live it up at York’s Cedar Court Grand.

And that’s precisely the view of local retailers and the city council, who have come together to launch Fashion City York.

“The city has fantastic shopping,” says Russell Norton, chairman of Fashion City York. “We have Fenwick’s, Brown’s, Sarah Coggles, Paul Smith, Vivienne Westwood as well as a mix of independent boutiques and high street brands too – and we want to get that across to residents and tourists alike.”

The fun begins this year with two weekend festivals – in April and September – leading to a week-long jamboree next March.

For the first event, held from April 2 to 3, a Fashion Village will spring up under a marquee in St Sampson’s Square, packed with stalls from local traders and boutiques. There will also be a fashion show at the Guildhall, featuring the best fashion in the city.

In September, Fashion City York will arrive on September 10 and 11, a week before the York Festival of Food and Drink, making use of its central marquee on Parliament Street for regular fashion shows – providing local businesses with a platform to promote themselves and show tourists and residents alike that York has style by the bagful.

Look out too for plenty of make-over opportunities, in-store promotions and challenges such as finding York’s street style icon.

It could be you!

Fashion City York will also produce up-to-date shopping trails, working on specific themes such as vintage, designer, eco-fashion, bridal and accessories.

The venture, which is not-for-profit, is a huge undertaking for the Fashion City York team – but also provides a great opportunity for creative people in the city to get involved.

To this end, Russell and his team are calling for volunteers to make Fashion City York the best it can be.

They want to hear from models – all ages, shapes and sizes, says Russell – hairdressers, make-up artists, fashion stylists, marketeers, PRs, photographers and people with lots of energy and some time to get behind the campaign and bring it to life. And they want as many local retailers, hair and beauty salons and designers, to get on board too.

An open evening will be held at Vudu Lounge, Swinegate, York, on Friday from 7pm, for people to find out more and learn how they can become involved.

Shopping already lures tourists to York, with around £400 million spent a year on the high street – and it is the third most popular activity for visitors, behind eating and drinking and cultural activities.

Russell, who is also the deputy manager of fashion store Republic in Coney Street, said: “York has world-class shopping. We have uniqueness and diversity and great cafés and beautiful scenery and we want to shout about that.”

Thanks: Our photoshoot took place at the Cedar Court Grand, Station Rise, York (cedarcourtgrand.co.uk), the city’s newest hotel aspiring to five-star status. Hair and make-up by Catherine Elizabeth Smith (catherine-elizabeth.co.uk), who runs a beauty studio from her home at Clifton Moor, York.

Models: Claire Heels and Ysanne Neal.

Styling: Russell Norton.

Clothes: from Priestley’s, Republic, Brown’s and Fenwick, all York.