Selina Blow presents 'A Night at the Movies'

Last night saw the very first Cheltenham Fashion Week event and it was a fabulous success. We would like to thank everyone who supported the event. It gave a real teaser for what is to come in September...

The evening took place at the utterly gorgeous Barnsley House. Cotswold stone and rose bushes abounded, the gardens of Barnsley House were manicured to perfection, with not a blade of grass out of place.

Guests started arriving in Barnsley House's private cinema just after 7.30pm. Once inside, the glamour of Cheltenham Fashion Week's first event took over. Moet and canapés circulated – of which the miniature fish and chips were our favourite.  Moet & Chandon were the sponsor for the evening - it was great to have them onboard.

At around 8ish guests were guided into the legendary pink cinema, and yes, it is as good as the pictures! We sunk down into the large pink sofas and started munching on our popcorn just in time for Selina Blow to enter.

Dressed in a fuchsia pink jacket (the exact shade of Cheltenham Fashion Week pink) with a wide checked shirt underneath, Selina started recounting her life and road to success along with amazing anecdotes about her late sister-in-law Isabella Blow and Alexandra McQueen. With fear of just repeating exactly what Selina said (you should have been there I’m afraid!) she began by confessing she has little to no technical expertise and absolutely no knowledge on how to design for mass production in industry.

But this is exactly how she likes it! Selina describes how she designs with pure creativity and has her own fabric designs woven in order to create a real masterpiece. 


With models wearing her creations there, Selina invited us feel and touch the intricate textiles and try on her garments. She explained how she has no interest in the fast fashion culture of modern times, which in her opinion churns out garments with no craftsmanship or quality. She rather honestly explained how the commercial fashion magazines have moved from celebrating creativity and design, to producing repetitive ‘vanilla fashion’ – and whilst this pedestrian style OK for some, for Selina ‘it’s simply not her!’

With the talk drawing to a close, Selina answered the questions that we were all desperate to ask.

So if yesterday evening was a taster for what is to come during Cheltenham Fashion Week (September 17-22), expect glamour, creativity, passion, eccentricity and above all a desire to celebrate everything fashion!

Tickets are selling fast so hurry! You can buy them at The Cheltenham Festivals Box Office, First Floor, Regent Arcade, Cheltenham or by telephoning 0844 880 8094

Esther xx

Professional Images by 'All in the Image'