WHAT THE FOX?! UK’S FIRST CELEBRITY SWAP SHOP OPENS AS BRITS SAY THE NORTH IS FAST BECOMING UK FASHION CAPITAL

Tuesday 26^th September: Foxy Bingo is calling on Brits to “get their Fox On” and head to the UK’s first Northern celebrity swap shop in Hull this weekend, following research that reveals that Northern cities in the UK are at the forefront of fashion trends, cultivating a fun and unique fashion identity that has given rise to renowned northern style icons.

TV’s best loved fashion consultant, Gok Wan, will open the doors to the Foxy Laundrette on Friday 29th September in Hull, where visitors can upcycle or donate old clothes for new ‘Foxy-fied’ looks, including the opportunity to get their hands on inspired looks and pre-loved ‘garms’ from some of the North’s foxiest celebrities including Gok himself, Alison Hammond, Sugababes’ Heidi Range, and reality TV stars Mollie Marsh and Adam Collard.

The North of England is fast becoming the next fashion capital of the UK, with new research by Foxy Bingo finding that Manchester is considered the second most fashion-forward city in the UK (30%), closely followed by Liverpool (18%) behind London (59%). 

By 'eck, Northern fashionistas are gaining well-deserved recognition for pushing the fashion envelope, being hailed for their bold (35%), fearless (28%), daring (28%), and brave (26%) style choices whilst Southerners are conservative (23%), unsurprising (13%), and, well, a tad boring (12%) in contrast.

TV Fashion Consultant and Presenter, Gok Wan, said: “I’m delighted that people are finally starting to recognise the real fashion capital of the UK. The North has delivered some of the most iconic looks of all time, and with the Foxy Laundrette, we’re bringing them to the wonderful people of Hull. This research said that over a third of you are waiting for your glow up moment… so what are you waiting for? Enter in your tired, old clothes and leave feeling fabulously Foxy-fied!”.

The findings mark the launch of a free pop-up event: The Foxy Laundrette – that celebrates Northern fashion and will open its doors to customers looking to refresh their looks and get their Fox On!

Guests will get much more than a Foxy refresh, with a mix of fun activities and games on offer, and even an opportunity to bag themselves items of clothing from real northern stars – such as Ricky Hatton, Alison Hammond, Heidi Range and many more. As well as looking good, visitors to the launderette can do good as all items of clothing donated will support a local charity.

The Foxy Laundrette will open Friday 29th (12-8pm) & Saturday 30th (10am-6pm) September. Address: 20-22 Anlaby Rd, Hull HU1 2PA. 

Tickets are free and available HERE from Eventbrite.

The research highlighted two distinct style archetypes in the UK. The North is fun, stylish yet practical, while the South is sophisticated and elegant. Puffer Jackets top the list of fashion items associated with the North (24%), followed by parkas jacket (20%), leggings (20%) all-in-one tracksuits (20%) and Ugg boots (20%), all of which offer comfort and versatility.

When it comes to Brits’ fashion inspos – research further found Princess Diana topped the list with her iconic Revenge Dress (24%). Reppin’ for the North, the Gallagher brothers’ iconic Parka Jackets (17%) were along among the most iconic celebrity looks of the decade.

The top 5 celebrity looks from last 10 years:

1. Princess Diana: Revenge Dress - 24%     

2. Amy Winehouse: Retro Style - 19%

3. Geri Halliwell: Union Jack Dress - 17%

4. The Gallagher brothers: Parka jacket - 17%

5. Elton John: Sunglasses - 16%

The top 5 celebrities who have / are influencing fashion:

1. Kate Middleton - 35%

2. David Beckham - 29%

3. Kate Moss - 24%

4. Naomi Campbell - 17%

5. Gok Wan - 16%

Top 10 most fashionable cities in the UK according to poll:

1. London 59% 

2. Manchester 30% 

3. Liverpool 18% 

4. Brighton 12% 

5. Birmingham 11% 

6. Edinburgh 11% 

7. Glasgow 8% 

8. Leeds 7% 

9. Newcastle 7% 

10. Cardiff 6%