Femme Country Magazine, a luxury country, fashion and lifestyle publication, has recently hosted its last beloved runway event of the year at The De Grey Rooms in York. It was an evening filled with glitz, glamour and good vibes– a night truly unforgettable.
Upon arrival at 7pm, we were greeted graciously and happily by the Editor-in-Chief of the magazine, Brontë Clare Mitchell, who guided us into a pre-function room full of femininity and sophistication. This acted as the room for socialising before the show. We were given a complimentary glass of champagne and were left to admire the room. It was decorated with beautiful sofas, a femme country photo backdrop featuring the sponsors of the night and a magazine stand featuring some of their own editions, as well as gorgeous arrays of flowers and the most beautifully decorated cupcakes I’ve ever seen.
After about 30 minutes, we were told we could go into the ballroom if we wanted. The ballroom was grand, it was the main room where the runway took place and it really added to the luxury feel of the night. All of the lighting came from chandeliers and once again, flower arrangements were placed all over the room. There was another femme country backdrop, not only amazing for photo opportunities but also to highlight the side of the room the models would be starting from. Once we entered and walked to our seats, we were greeted with the most thoughtful gift bags placed upon them. Each bag contained perfume samples, mini body care products, a magazine edition, sponsor leaflets, and a program, all beautifully tied with pink ribbon to reach the intended aesthetic.
At around 7.45pm, staff circulated with beautifully decorated cupcakes (which tasted as good as they looked), and about 15 minutes later, they returned with champagne to refill our glasses. They were all so attentive and friendly, and really made us feel like we were living in luxury. This all tied us over until 8pm when Brontë Clare Mitchell gave a speech detailing the sponsors and what was in store for the night. She mentioned that it would be “country and city fashion mixed together” and that’s exactly what it was.
Each model was wonderful, radiating joy and confidence, adding to the evening’s charm. Every outfit was so put together; they were elegant, classy and luxurious, reiterating the atmosphere. Hats, coats, blazers, jackets, boots, suit sets, bags, scarves and headbands were all showcased.
The main colour palette seemed to be greens, burnt oranges, navy, whites, blacks, beige, reds and an abundance of classic tweeds.
Most of the outfits were paired with heels, heeled boots (over the trousers), flats or wellies, and were coordinated with all aspects of the outfit, like bags. They were small but always matched. They depicted how to dress up or down the outfit, making it suitable for day or night. Scarves were a very good versatile accessory for doing this, depending on the elegance of the outfit, the scarf was used as a head scarf or around the neck and then tucked into the belt of a skirt. The accessories really elevated each outfit and were all so eye-catching, whether a headband, scarf, bag or hat.
The show went on until 8.45pm and really was “unlike the north has ever seen” as promised by the Editor-in-Chief. Following a closing speech of thanks, guests were invited to take photos or return to the pre-function room for more drinks and socialising. It truly was the best night and I look forward to the next one.
The sponsors for the night were as follows: Moira Johnson, Country Lookbook, The Silver Stable, Wellidogs, Maude & Fox, Williams & Brown, Finestock Home, King & Carr, Marsali, Chalbury, Country & Food Festival, Black Nova Designs and Waring Brooke.
