UNIVERSITY NEWS LAST UPDATED : 19 OCTOBER 2012
A first year fashion design student from Birmingham City University has been crowned runner up in ITV This Morning’s Perfect Party Dress competition.
Nineteen-year-old Kelly Weaver from Kidderminster was one of over 500 would-be designers who entered the nationwide search to find the perfect party dress for the Christmas party season.
Entrants were asked to submit a design of the ultimate party dress with the lucky winner having their design made and sold in selected stores and online at high street retailer John Lewis. Kelly’s red, mid length dress, featured a ruched waist band aimed at enhancing the hour glass figure.
Kelly, who is currently studying Fashion Design at the Birmingham Institute of Art and Design (BIAD) said: “I was initially inspired by New York Fashion Week’s recurring trend of folds and wraps. I wanted to create a timeless piece which isn’t going to date and can be styled up however you want.”
Expert judges
The designs were judged by a leading panel of experts including Amy Molyneaux and Percy Parker of fashion label PPQ; Jo Hooper, Head of Buying for Womenswear at John Lewis and This Morning’s fashion expert and stylist Faye Sawyer.
Throughout the competition Kelly took part in a range of tasks and had the opportunity to create a window display in John Lewis’ store in Oxford Street where her dress was showcased to the public.
The finalists were announced on last week’s show and viewers were invited to vote online for their favourite design with the winner announced live on Thursday’s show (11 October).
Kelly continued: “There were so many highlights of the competition but seeing my dress made and displayed in the John Lewis Oxford Street windows was an insane feeling. I was even lucky enough to meet Sir Roger Moore who appeared on the show that day, it felt like I was in a dream! The whole experience has been amazing, I have learnt so much and intend to bring everything I have learnt into my degree.”