THE cold nights may be drawing in but things are hotting up for those behind Oxford Fashion Week.

Guests from the world of fashion, photography, modelling and even museums arrived at the Varsity club in High Street on Monday night for a glimpse of what next month’s fiesta of fashion will offer.

From this year, the week will be held twice yearly. The first event, back in March, proved a roaring success and the autumn version takes place this year from November 3-8.

Carl Anglim, director of Oxford Fashion Week, said: “It was the first public event of the season heading into fashion week, the first time we announced our plans.

“It was great to tell the photographers, designers and models who attended that we will be doing the week twice a year now, and it was great to see all the creative people there getting excited about what they might do.”

John Hobart, of Modern Art Oxford, independent jewellery designer Chloe Mellon and representatives from Elliott Brown modelling agency chewed the fat with fashion week organiser and the Face of Oxford 2011, Tiffany Saunders.

Before the week, organisers will be on the hunt for models to take part in the many events, and find the Face of Oxford, the model who will feature on posters and publicity. Casting sessions will be held this weekend before a social media public vote.

The week’s showpiece event will be a catwalk in the Natural History Museum. The Birds of Paradise show will see the sele-cted models strut their stuff in the unusual company of 260-million-year-old dinosaur skeletons.

Rachel Parle, head of interpretation and education at the museum, was also there to get an idea of what is to come.

Tiffany Saunders said: “It’s one of the only fashion weeks that incorporates the cultural aspect of the venues connected to the tradition of the buildings.

“There are some amazing backdrops, models will be walking down the runway with dinosaur skeletons on either side – this isn’t like any other fashion week, it’s very unique.”

  • Tickets for the various shows, including the High Street collections and Couture show, went on sale last night. Go to oxfordfashionweek.com/

BE THE FACE OF OXFORD

  • Oxford Fashion Week will be holding open model casting sessions for men and women for the Face of Oxford, the model who will appear on posters marketing the event.
  • No modelling experience is necessary, nor are there any size or height restrictions but applicants must be over the age of 16.
  • This Saturday and Sunday there will be sessions held at the Varsity club from noon to 3pm.
  • On Monday the panel will go to John Henry Building at Brookes University at the same time.
  • A shortlist will then be selected for people to vote on social media.
  • The Face of Oxford will be announced on October 23.

EVENTS

  • Lingerie show – Wednesday, November 5, at Malmaison Oxford, 7.30pm.
  • High Street collections – Thursday, November 6 at The Varsity Club, 7.30pm
  • Independent collections – Friday, November 7 at Oxford University Museum of Natural History galleries, 6pm
  • Couture show – November 7 at Oxford University Museum of Natural History galleries, 7.30pm
  • Birds of Paradise Show – Saturday, November 8 at Oxford University Museum of Natural History, 7pm.
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