Designers to show their latest collections at the second Oxford Fashion Week of 2014

(Photo:MarieProm)This year, for the first time, Oxford Fashion Week is taking place twice and kicking off its second week of 2014 fashion with a dazzling array of shows and catwalks, models and designers all collaborating to bring you the most ambitious schedule to date, concluding at Oxford University Museum of Natural History with its final show Birds of Paradise.

OFW director Carl Anglim explains. “Designers love to feature as part of Oxford Fashion Week and didn’t understand why they could only show off their collections once a year, and not more often. We didn’t understand either so have decided to do it twice. So instead of why, the question for us was why not?” While you can still expect the Lingerie Show, the High Street Collections, Independent Collections and Couture Show, the Birds of Paradise Show is a new addition to the line-up and takes full advantage of its surroundings.

A black-tie reception will be held amidst the dinosaurs and their friends at Oxford University Museum of Natural History on a glittering Saturday night extravaganza, before guests are led into the wings for the runway show, where the models, chosen from the recent Oxford castings, will walk the entirety of the museum, showcasing the clothes of top designers from all over the world.

“We have wanted to work with Oxford University Museum of Natural History for a long time and this show tied in so perfectly with the museum itself, it was the perfect collaboration, Carl adds. “Plus the recent overhaul of the museum and a new lighting system, as well as the ability to move some of the aisles and exhibits, meant it was the perfect space and the biggest area we’ve ever had to work with.

“The Birds of Paradise collection is housed in the museum itself of course although we will provide our own version on the night,”he smiles.

The black tie event will close a week of lavish sets, venues, clothes and catwalks in what looks to be its best line-up ever, starting on Monday and featuring five separate shows and concepts.

Oxford Fashion Week was founded in 2009 and has featured more than 440 designers from 17 countries, audiences of 10,000 and designers including Matthew Williamson, Alexander McQueen and Valentin Yudashkin, as well as the contemporary Ara Jo and Yvonne Lau, plus male supermodel David Gandy. Numerous OFW models have also gone on to launch high-profile modelling careers off the back of their debuts: Ash Longshaw, Cara Kealy, Josh Holden-Taylor, Ollie Callaghan and Fiona Callaghan all being signed to modelling agencies following their appearances at OFW in March 2014.Read more at:MarieProm cheap prom dresses