Trendsetters will be hitting the town this weekend as Fashion City York arrives. MAXINE GORDON has the latest.

SHOPPING lovers are in for a treat this weekend as the city launches its first festival of fashion.

Fashion City York begins on Saturday, opening for business in a marquee in St Sampson’s Square and hosting a catwalk show in the Guildhall in the evening.

To make the most of the weekend, shoppers should pick up the Fashion City York brochure – produced by The Press – detailing all the events and promotions available over the two days.

The 36-page A5-size magazine, packed with fashion features and offers, will be available from the Fashion Village marquee in St Sampson’s Square, as well as from the till points of leading participators in Fashion City York – Fenwick’s, Brown’s and Republic.

Not only will York’s city-centre shops be in the spotlight over the two days, but retailers and up-and-coming designers from further afield will be taking part via the Fashion Village marquee in St Sampson’s Square.

Stallholders will include:

• Bunty & Co: This quaint boutique has been charming fashionistas in Pocklington for four years with its refreshing mix of sophisticated tailoring, pretty occasion dresses, quirky casuals, to-die-for shoes, and unusual handbags and jewellery.

Besides its selection of limited edition prom dresses and occasion dresses designed by young British designers, Bunty & Co prides itself in showcasing the talents of Yorkshire labels, including Blonde And Wise, Trout And Pout and Love Our Stuff.

• Bill Baber Knitwear: The main boutique is at 138 Micklegate and offers a “knitwear design” experience, handmaking one-off knitted pieces in organic, natural and vegetable fibres such as silk, cotton and linen.

• Kelly Ewing: This 30-year-old designer draws inspiration from Victorian aristocracy to pre-Raphaelite romanticism, but with a modern twist. Expect to find boned corsetry mixed with clever pattern cutting and sharp tailoring.

New for 2011: after winning the “Best dressed lady” award at York races in one of her own designs, Kelly has been inspired to launch an exclusive Day At The Races collection.

• Makki: These award-winning handbags are made from eel skin and are so desirable. Check out the three new collections for 2011, including the Glam Deco range made from woven skin in bright colours.

Visitors to the fashion village can also be made over like a celeb for the day. They can try a Kelly Ewing dress for size, have their make-up done and then be photographed by a professional snapper – all for a tenner.

Also in the Fashion Village on Saturday, Zoe Barnes Chapman, of Gillies Fabrics on Peter Lane, York, will be taking on the challenge of making a dress in a day along with her colleague Victoria Heslop.

Follow their progress through regular updates on Fashion City York’s Facebook page and on Twitter.

Come nightfall, the action switches to the grandeur of the Guildhall, St Helen’s Square, where the first Fashion City York catwalk show takes place, from 7pm to 10pm.

The show will feature clothing, hair and make-up from York’s independent designers, boutiques, large brand stores and salons. Guests will be treated to a dazzling show of two themed parts: ‘Best of the High Street’ and ‘Unique York’.

Clothes from Browns, Coast, Debenhams, East, Fenwick’s, Jigsaw, Joy, LK Bennett, Republic, Sarah Coggles and Vivienne Westwood will be among those on show.

Tickets for the Catwalk York show cost £12.50 for a seated ticket, £8.50 for non-seated ticket, and are available from the visityork.org and the Visitor Information Centre, Museum Street, York.

• For all the latest news, follow Fashion City York online at fashioncityyork.co.uk or join in the fun on Facebook: facebook.com/fashioncityyork or follow on Twitter @fashioncityyork