We may have a lot of super designers with links to the North West (Sarah Burton and Stella McCartney to name a few) but it is not often that they come up to see us. However, last Thursday, Chorlton boy Matthew Williamson hit Selfridges Exchange Square in style for a preview of his Spring/Summer collection.
Matthew is a designer much loved by the glamorous Northern lady and it was exciting to see flurries of Selfridges customers dolled up in their finest Williamson outfits as the room was filled with the colour and embellishment that made the designer famous. The ladies were all delighted to meet Matthew, who, ever the charmer, signed books and chatted all things fashion and Manchester with some of his biggest fans.
The event was held in and catered for by Selfridges new restaurant, Aubaine, so not only was it a great opportunity to meet one of the UK’s greatest designer and paw over his creations but it was also a chance to sample some of Aubaine’s famous Macaroons and get jolly on champagne, a definite STYLEetc type of event.
The show opened with a cream print maxi dress, which we thought was ideal for a summer holiday in Ibiza, and then continued with some show stopping, jaw droppingly beautiful party dresses. A favourite of ours was a gold lace and feathered number which at about £3500, isn’t the cheapest of dresses but with such fabulous detailing is worth every penny. There were also several in creams, blues and corals which were also stunning. We found ourselves justifying a splurge by discussing how perfect they were for summer weddings and ladies day at Aintree.
After the show, the rush was on, with ladies dropping their champagne and dashing to the fitting rooms to try the dresses they had spotted in the show. These shoppers know what they are doing and customers were pre ordering their dresses to ensure they will be the first of their friends to get hold of the best pieces.
In Manchester, ladies want to stand in a crowd, so for them these heavily detailed ‘wow’ dresses are perfect. The excitement of the whole night was so much and such fun was had that we hear some of the ladies didn’t get home until the early hours .No doubt we will see some of them out and about in their brightly coloured purchases at events throughout the summer.
Words by Siobhan Cooper
