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I've just got back from The Clothes Show Live. The Clothes Show is fast becoming a Winter tradition in England. Just in time for Christmas, the doors are opened on plenty of bargains from the High Street stores, most of the special offers are only available at the show.

It's been nine years since the doors were first opened at the NEC, Birmingham, England for this event. As usual there was so much to see and bargains everywhere, (I'm glad I didn't take my check book). The fashion consious flock to this event in search of a bargain and they are not disappointed - there are seven massive halls full of exhibits.

As you enter the halls the first thing you're aware of is the beat of music, people cheering (some screaming), and the huge amount of people walking around. This is the "Fashion à la Rock and Roll" event of the planet. Surprisingly, once you're inside it doesn't seem that crowded. The halls at the National Exhibition Centre are truly huge.

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This year the show's usual presenter - designer celebrity Jeff Banks wasn't the Master of Ceremonies. A shame that; at a show where the quality ranges all the way from the lowbrowest to the very highbrowest, his elevating touch of class was missed.

At past events, I've been surprised to find numbers of obsessed, half-naked ladies frantically trying out new clothes in the toilets because of the lack of changing rooms. This year that problem seemed to have been solved; the only thighs I saw were on the catwalk.

And talking about catwalks, this show provides a chance to see top models on the runways, get a new haircut, or get some beauty tips from the most professional of makeup artists.

The first thing you must do because of the show's size is get a guide, this will tell you who is at the show. If you don't get a guide you might spend the day walking round in circles, so you have to find a perch and make a plan of attack. With over 400 exhibitors it's impossible to get to see everything in one day, so you either have to make a plan - or plan to come back on another day.

Aside from the shopping opportunties, other highlights include seven daily catwalk shows, live presentations from top stylists such as Andrew Collinge, Daniel Field and Trevor Sorbie, and demonstrations of beauty tips. There's a fashion theatre featuring a rock and rollish extravaganza of models and dancers displaying their goods to some truly pummeling music.

There's even a 3000-seat fashion circus which combines performance art with costumes specially designed for the event. This claims to be a mixture of the Venice Carnival, a Barnum-Bailey circus, modern ballet, and a fashion show all rolled into one.

And for those of you who fancy your chances on the catwalk - stylish visitors are chosen to appear on the People's Runway. So wear your best togs!

Clothes Show Trivia

The world's biggest fashion event
Around 250,000 visitors
More than 4000 line up for make-overs
The fashion theatre features the longest catwalk in the world and seats more than the Albert Hall
On average, the models have to squeeze themselves into 300 outfits in just 40 minutes
There is a team of 17 hairdressers and make-up artists back-stage, primping, preening and pinning the models' locks
Clothes Show Live appeals to lads too! Last year nearly a quarter of its visitors were men
The show attracts visitors of all ages - from 16 to 60
Visitors to the show go shopping mad, spending an amazing £205,263 every hour - that's £3421 per minute (US$350,000 per hour)

Over the coming days we'll be covering more of The Clothes Show Live in The Fashion Page. We'll be putting it on the site as we finish it. Keep checking back.

In the meantime, we couldn't resist sharing this!
The Loin King Ad