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City Hall gets `all dressed up`
7 August 2009
Belfast`s most iconic building is literally getting `all dressed up`.
The magnificent dome of the City Hall has inspired a stunning new dress – which itself will take centre stage when Belfast`s civic centrepiece re-opens for business in October.
City Hall will be the venue for the fifth West Coast Cooler FASHIONWEEK, Ireland`s multi-award-winning fashion event, beginning with a spectacular `Fashion Through the Decades` showcase on Thursday 29 October.
This will be followed by nightly catwalk shows, master classes, exciting exhibitions and the coolest, freshest fashion both on and off the catwalk, making the popular event bigger and better again this season. As usual, there will be showcases from the very best of the high street, as well as the hottest local designers and chic boutiques.
In addition to the shows, fashion photographer Khara Pringle will also showcase her `Uniform of Fashion` photography exhibition which includes beautiful and iconic images of TV personalities such as Zoe Salmon, actor James Nesbitt, singer Sharon Corr, Miss Northern Ireland, Cherie Gardiner, and Snow Patrol`s Gary Lightbody.
The Lord Mayor of Belfast, Councillor Naomi Long, welcomed the concept of a `City Hall for All` and urged the public to support the packed programme of events Belfast City Council is planning to mark the completion of the building`s £11 million refurbishment.
"We are delighted that FASHIONWEEK will be able to showcase the best of what our city has to offer in the wonderful surroundings of City Hall," she said.
"Given Belfast`s proud association with the linen and textiles industry, it is fitting that we celebrate our fashion heritage and the creativity that will ensure success in the future too."
To celebrate the move, local dress designer and independent retailer, Lizzie Agnew, created a Victorian crinoline dress inspired by the Baroque dome. She said:
“I`ve based the skirt of the dress on the distinctive copper dome with Verdis Gris shot silk cut into panels to echo the architecture. And for the top of the dress, I have recreated the cupola using a dark grey, tight fitting, boned bodice. A scalloped ruffle at the edge with a `Toby` frill at the waist reflects the carved stonework, so overall, the tight corseted waist with highly structured separate dome skirt reflects both the fashion at the time as well as this very solid, though delicately detailed, building.
For further information on show schedules, tickets, links to participant retailers and designers as well as the season`s hottest trends, log on to www.belfastfashionweek.com. For show tickets, call the Belfast Welcome Centre Box Office on 028 9023 9026.
Belfast City Hall has been closed since October 2007 for major refurbishment. The £11 million renovation project included re-roofing, asbestos removal, drainage improvements, the installation of computer/ network systems and the replacement of heating, mechanical and electrical systems.
Public-facing services, such as the Cemeteries Office and Registrar of Births, Deaths, Marriages and Civil Partnerships, will return to City Hall at the end of September.
A full programme of activities for all the family to celebrate the City Hall re-opening is being planned for mid October. The packed line-up of events will run from Saturday 17 October through until the end of the month.
For more information, visit www.belfastcity.gov.uk/yourcityhall
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