Bristol mums' fashion show a success

Hundreds of people flocked to a fashion show with a difference in Hartcliffe, Bristol.

It was staged by a make-up artist and an accountant – both local mums – who wanted to show how to look good on a budget.

Amanda Pritchard's dresses and shirts cost a fraction of the price of similar designer wear.

And the mother-of-two from Brislington chose ordinary girls she knew to model the clothes.

More than 260 people went to the fashion show held at Hartcliffe Community Centre on Wednesday night.

"It was so busy there was almost a stampede," said Amanda, who runs the Face by Make-up Artists studio on Bedminster Down Road, "People were queueing in the road."

"Gok Wan, the TV fashion expert is my inspiration. People can't afford to spend a lot on clothes these days and you don't have to.

"My job as a make-up artist is about making people look as good as they can.

"I get a buzz out of seeing women walk in my studio self-conscious and go out walking tall. The clothes are an extension of that.

"About half our clothes we designed ourselves and have made up and the other half we bought."

A silver shirt with a rosette costing £20 was very popular, as was a red dress at £25.

Amanda's business partner is Jane Belgium, 41, an accountant from Whitchurch who takes care of the finances.

They met through their 14-year-old daughters who are in the same year at school.

Amanda said: "We didn't imagine the fashion show would be so successful. People were desperate to get their hands on the clothes.

"We didn't want to use professional models. We wanted to show the clothes on real women and they were brilliant.

"I was fed up going to fashion shows where you could see the girls' ribs sticking out – our girls had busts."

Amanda and Jane's clothes will go on sale online at www.designeroutlook.co.uk from December 1.