OXFORD University students will be swapping the library for the catwalk tomorrow night to help Aids victims.

They are hosting the Red Dress Couture Ball at the Town Hall in St Aldate’s to raise cash for two charities.

World renowned designers, from Nicole Farhi to Vera Wang, will each showcase one red couture dress at a fashion show, representing their support for charities Help and Teach a Man to Fish.

All proceeds from the black-tie event go to both good causes and projects to combat HIV and Aids.

James Kingston, 21, a third year history and politics student at Christ Church, is one of 20 students organising the event.

Mr Kingston, who will be the president of the Student Union from next month, said: “We want to help people in very difficult circumstances in Malawi and in other countries.

“We also want to give guests a wonderful time and show them a really good all round event.”

Other designers who have either commissioned dresses especially for the show or taken from their own collections, are Chanel, Paul Smith and Anya Hindmarch.

Lots on offer at a charity auction during the fashion show include a Victoria Beckham autographed photograph and the original handwritten draft of the lyrics of Disney’s Just Around the Riverbend from the film Pocahontas.