WHEN walking on the catwalk, models in Oxford Fashion Week were serene and composed. Backstage it was a different story.
During the final show of Oxford’s first Autumn/Winter fashion week, dozens of models were crowded in a small annex of the Museum of Natural History.
Dashing between hair and makeup stations and the rails holding the all-important clothes were models, designers, directors and artists.
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Anna Brown was one of the event’s youngest models, turning 16 halfway through the week.
Model Anna Brown takes to the catwalk for the Birds of Pardise Show.
The Banbury resident said: “This was my first time modelling and it’s been an incredible experience.
“It was scary at first but everyone was so friendly and welcoming.
“It’s something I would never have experienced before, it’s very exciting and fun.
“The runway is the best bit. It’s nerve-wracking but great fun. Some of the clothes are like the clothes I wear anyway, like tight dresses, but others are not.”
A model at the Birds of Paradise Show.
The Chenderit School pupil said: “It’s full of surprises, lots of things happen that you don’t expect or at the last minute.”
Fellow model Ash Longshaw was living proof of this. When asked, minutes before the show started, what she was wearing she said: “I have no idea. It’s been changed around so many times.
“It will be a surprise for me as much as the audience.”
The 19-year-old, from Princes Risborough, said: “It’s amazing modelling in the museum, it’s just beautiful.
“It’s huge. The audience were sat all around the floor with the skeletons and stuff around.”
This model shows off a rainbow of colours as she strides down the catwalk at the Couture Runway Show.
The museum was specially chosen by director Carl Anglim to fit with the show’s theme of birds of paradise.
He said that next year’s Spring/Summer Oxford Fashion Week, due to take place in March, will see more unusual venues.
Speaking to the Oxford Mail, he said: “We’re thinking about March already.
“We’re cracking on straight away.
“We have a couple of exciting ideas in motion now. It’s looking to be something quite different – but we’re not ready to announce anything yet.”
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