Marlborough put on its glad rags for a night of fashion on Thursday, when 10 boutiques paraded their wares in front of a capacity audience at Marlborough Town Hall.
Models sashayed down the runway to a pounding dance music soundtrack, showing clothes stocked by local independents and multiples, including Joules, Rowlands, Spirit, Landmark, Phase Eight, Belles, East, Joan Pressley, Kath Kidston and Jigsaw.
For the organisers Marlborough Chamber of Commerce, it was a chance to show what the town had to offer ahead of the festive season and the month of late night openings when, from November 24 when the town’s lights display is switched on, shops will be open until 8pm every Thursday until Christmas.
Chamber president Paul Shimell told the audience: “Effie Robins, the manger of Joules, and I realised that Marlborough town needed to fight back against the recession, so in order to bring the town together we put on this fashion show. We were so overwhelmed by the amount of traders willing to take part, that we felt we could raise money along the way for the major’s charity, Wiltshire Air Ambulance.”
The event, which raised £1,000 for the Air Ambulance Appeal, was compered by Liz Williams, owner of The Perfumery in High Street and a herself a former fashion model.
Before the fashion show started upstairs, guests were treated to a glass of champagne courtesy of Waitrose and invited to browse stalls selling the wares of more local shops.
In all, 24 local businesses were involved in putting on the show a feat described by Mr Shimell as a great community effort.