Some of us can only dream of being 6 foot ⁺, a supermodel and tv personality; Lorraine Pascale just has to look in the mirror! Joined by stylist and fashion-editor Phoebe Arnold, herself a blonde, gazelle-like creature, and Richard Mortimer, editor-in-chief of Ponystep magazine, and Tracey Parks-Taylor, group marketing director at Monsoon Accessorize, the professional judges scrutinized 23 exceptional dresses, designed, created and modelled by JAGS girls from Years 8-13 on 7 October. 

Organisers Tarabella Ward, Katharine Higgs and Jessica Brough had set the themes Child’s Play, Tribal and Recycled, held their breath and waited. They needn’t have worried. Amazing outfits were shown off to a packed, appreciative theatre audience. It was better than some designers’ first collections, Phoebe declared!  No matter the level of experience, girls from Years 8-13 had been inspired to hand-sew, machine, applique, glue and string together extraordinary materials including carrier bags and shells, ties and the Financial Times! The photos show how imaginatively they were pleated and draped, twisted beautifully, or left to float.

There were winners of course, but the main achievement was seeing how girls helped each other to put on a fantastic, polished and highly original show. £1,200 was raised in aid of the Romania project. Congratulations to all those involved, especially to the organisers and the sixth form presenters, backstage and front of house teams, and thanks to the incomparable judges.

11 October 2011