Whenever I'm in London, there always seems to be time to fit in a quick trip to Topshop. Although I know my place shopping along Oxford Street, I tend to swiftly drift down Bond Street, just for fun. Gazing at brands such as Alexander McQueen and Missoni, I can only pretend that such clothes have a place in my wardrobe. No harm in looking, though. As a city known for fashion, London is bursting with designer boutiques which have a great clientele, and an even greater price tag. However, small boutiques which trade outside of the city are sometimes overshadowed by the lure of the London buzz.
Back in Surrey, although the county is full of aspiring fashionistas, fashion boutiques appear to be few and far between, and we seem to lack the energy and vision which glitters London streets. We have some beautiful boutiques offering designer pieces, but these stores need to be publicised more in order to attract more interest.
Now, however, thanks to a group of women from Cobham, local boutiques are going to get the chance to be involved in a high-end fashion occasion which is coming to the Brooklands Hotel in Weybridge this November.
Fashion For Good, a charitable fund set up to help the local community, is looking to bring the fashion spotlight to Surrey all the while supporting a great cause along the way. Last year, Fashion For Good staged an event which raised over £20,000, and this November they hope to do even better.
This year, Fashion For Good has attracted London attention including fashion brands Kate Spade and Little Mistress, both of which will feature in this year's two-day event.
Taking place at the Brooklands Hotel on Friday 9 November, an invited audience will be able to view an exclusive catwalk show hosted by influential PR and style expert Nick Ede, where local celebrities and fashion-lovers will have the opportunity to bid for luxury treats including a trip to Barbados, or theatre tickets to London's West End.
The following day, Saturday 10 November, a fashion and beauty "trunk" show will be showcasing over 35 fashion and beauty boutique brands, offering a unique shopping event which is open to the public. Other activities on offer include a haircut and blow dry, luxury beauty treatments including a manicure and pedicure, and the opportunity to grab a makeover from a number of experienced stylists. At the same time, high fashion tea and champagne will be available throughout the day adding an extra bit of glitz to you experience.
So, if you have a passion for fashion and want to gain exclusive access to a number of designer boutiques open for a very special reason, the Booklands Hotel on Saturday 10 November is the place to be. Even if it's just a bit of glamour you are after on a Saturday afternoon, come and soak up the atmosphere whilst supporting a charitable cause.
All the money raised by Fashion For Good will go towards a number of grants and projects which help the local community, and support families within the area who are affected by child poverty and other disadvantages. Next seasons trends will soon be hitting the high street, however, the style spies at Fashion For Good say that rumour has it - charity is the new black.
For more information, visit www.fashionforgood.co.uk