Fashion & Beauty

Selfridges & Attitude magazine’s Great British Bang Fashion Show

27 May 2012

Ian Michael Turner

27 May 2012

It wasn’t only the early onslaught of summer at the 5th Annual Selfridges and Attitude magazine’s Great British Bang Fashion Show that had the crowd hot and bothered!

The event, part of Selfridges’ “Big British Bang”; an all-encompassing celebration and creative homage to the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee and the Olympics; just in time for the holiday season, was a men’s catwalk presentation to showcase the hottest new styles in underwear and swimwear for guys. In 80° heat, the venue reached near sauna-like conditions, but this did little to deter the eager anticipation of the men and women who packed the rows. The lux card invites made for handy impromptu fans and complimentary Smirnoff Ices delivered by uniformed waiters (poor guys!) kept the crowd hydrated.

The excitable emcee, who had come from backstage, informed the crowd that they were in for a real treat, and then introduced the opening act: girl group Fanfair. Fresh off their support gig touring with mega boyband The Wanted, the girls performed a medley of their songs providing an upbeat start to the main event.

Without further ado, no sooner had Fanfair left the stage than the lights dipped and the fashion show began. A bevy of buff male models including Rihanna’s recent video boy toy (and rumoured paramour) Dudley O’Shaughnessy, strutted their honed physiques down the catwalk clad in underwear and swimwear from top brands that included Bjorn Borg, Calvin Klein, Diesel, Aussiebum and Vilebrequin. The show ended fittingly with a boxer short-clad model walking out an adorable British bulldog to a thunder of applause, and, no doubt, left many of the male attendees vowing to get back into the gym post haste!

The show was followed with a party and shopping event in the Selfridges underwear and swimwear department. Customers could pose for photographs with the models whilst shopping the latest styles straight from the catwalk. Factor in the spray tans courtesy of Fake Bake, skincare advice from Bare Escentuals, goody bags and copies of the latest issue of Attitude and a DJ who entertained the crowd while more drinks were handed out; this was an event that people will be talking about for some time!