Clothes Show Live – when the fashion world came to Birmingham

The Clothes Show was one of those programmes, a bit like Top of the Pops in the 1980s, which almost everyone watched. Starring Jeff Banks and Selina Scott and later alongside Caryn Franklin, they appeared on our screens in what appeared to be a revolutionary way with clothes.

Up until then we were all happy wearing our shell suits and sweatpants, but since then, the fashion world has changed. The show was an immediate hit with reports from the catwalks and how to get the catwalk look on a budget.

With the expansion of the TV show to live shows, with the first show opening in 1989, the event ran for years until 2013, and there were even rumors that the show might return.

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With outlandish outfits, catwalk models and stars by the dozen, the show has always been a glam event in town this December. Just for a few days we could all dream of being the next big model and making our fortune before going back to the 9 to 5 at the office.

We take a look back at the show at the NEC over the years and marvel at the outfits once worn, a wish we were brave enough to fulfill most of them.

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