Women In Business Expo 2018

Last Friday saw the 2018 Women In Business Expo taking place in the stunning confines of Birmingham’s historic Council House. This is an event organised by the inspirational Pushpa Alexander of Headz Up Business and is a mixture of help and advice for Women in Business, with panel talks and information stands from a range of experts in both business and technology. In addition, the centre of the show is a fashion show which showcases the best of local design talent and is organised and managed by Joshua Williams, the former Mr Birmingham whose youth belies a wealth of experience in fashion and media.

Bally Bhogal opened this year’s show with their energetic mix of Bhangra Style dancing ‘Bhangra Blaze’ and fitness which was both fun and impressive, especially considering this was one of the hottest days of the year, and then there was an informative talk from Fiona Ollerenshaw from Digital Birmingham, talking about the sorts of funding you can get for start ups in Birmingham to support your digital and technical journey.

And then it was onto the fashion.

First up was Mirror Image Style which is a collection that mixes vintage style florals, glamorous shimmering fabrics and bodycon styles. I loved the long velour style coat worn over a swimsuit for the ultimate in poolside glamour and decadence, and the cute floral bandeau and shorts that have the feel of vintage 1950s kitsch.

Next up was Elementz Of Couture, a collection that combines bright and vibrant colour with ultra modern style. The blue velour catsuit was a standout piece, bringing to mind the style of Rihanna, especially when teamed with a blunt blue wig. The third designer showcased was Latisha Augustine, a contemporary womenswear/sportswear designer who was showcasing her end of year collection.

The collection is bold, with it’s geometric shapes and cuts, and use of a palette of muted blues, greys and greens that are enlivened with splashes of wonderful mustard. This is a really wearable collection that I was very impressed with.

The final collection was from an old favourite. Kiss Me Kate is a go to designer when you want the wow factor, whether that be for a prom, a red carpet event or a sparkling evening event. The collections are full length and fabulous, using shimmer and sequins, net and tulle to create dream dresses that will make you feel like a princess or a movie star, whatever your preference may be.

The fashion show was a fabulous mixture of style and design that I really enjoyed. Once again Pushpa and Joshua had created a wonderful event that was a perfect fusion of business and creativity.

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