It’s one of the UK’s biggest fashion extravaganzas and it takes over the city centre this weekend. Lisa Piddington indulges her passion for fashion at Style Birmingham Live

Lights, fashion … action. There’s a rush of excitement through the audience at the Town Hall (and a fair few wolf whistles) as host George Lamb walks on stage. Yes ladies, he really is as gorgeous in the flesh.

This, fellow fashionistas, is the showpiece of Style Birmingham Live – the Catwalk Show. Twenty two models, wearing 264 outfits between them, take to the runway in a blaze of camera flashes. Welcome to the city’s most impressive fashion event.

Showcasing the very best in AW collections – including a scene from LFW darling Osman Yousefzada – there’s no doubting this is a fabulous spectacle.

The great news is this is just one of many highlights being staged over the weekend, each one confirming Birmingham’s place as one of the country’s most important shopping hotspots.

And with so much to see across the city, it’s essential to have a plan of action. After all, no stylista worth her Jimmy Choos wants to miss out!

So to keep you on track, here’s my tried and tested itinerary for the perfect day out at Style Birmingham Live:

11am – The Harvey Nichols Hub: Impossible to miss, this 40ft long pop-up shop dominates Victoria Square and is proving a real magnet for visitors. Enjoy mini make-overs and treatments and even get your picture taken in the fabulously glittery photo booth (go for your best smile – these get uploaded straight on to Facebook!).

12noon – The Town Hall Catwalk Show: With 36 retailers taking part – from Aspecto and Disorder to Uber and Warehouse – this really is as good as it gets. There’s even a one to one live interview between George Lamb and celebrity hairstylist Warren Holmes.

1pm – The MAC Theatre at Mailbox: Picking two key make-up trends for the coming season, this informal lecture session is the ideal place to pick up tips from blending your eye shadow to getting the smoky look just right.

And while you’re in Mailbox, don’t forget to pick up your goody bags on Level 5 (Gold Ticket holders get an extra one from the Mailbox Rewards Lounge on Level 3)

1.45pm – House of Fraser: Lunchtime … well, a girl’s gotta eat! As a gold ticket holder, I chose delicious Afternoon Tea at House of Fraser, which also gives me the chance to catch some of the store’s other activities. There’s a real focus on pampering, so make sure you visit the beauty hall for demos and offers.

3pm – Bullring: No rest for the stylish, I hot-foot it to Bullring for The Show. Wonderfully choreographed and styled, the centre has pulled together its major retailers – including Zara, COS, Reiss and soon-to-open Forever 21 – to offer a real treat for the eyes. Avant garde and eccentric – I love it!

4.30pm: Phew! Across to Pavilions for another fashion show … yes, I am feeling very spoilt indeed. I’m really impressed that the stores here have opted to use a diverse range of models, both in age and size to showcase the likes of LK Bennett, Marks & Spencer, Monsoon and Evans. Dance troupe Out of the Shadows certainly add an edgy feel while mini models from Bratz get a real “aahhhh” from the audience.

5.30pm – My chauffeur awaits: My Gold Ticket entitles me to use the specially branded chauffeur driven Audis, which ferry VIPs from venue to venue. With my head full of ideas for the most fantastic new season wardrobe, I’m driven from Bullring to Mailbox where I relax with a well earned Style Birmingham Live cocktail at the Harvey Nichols SKYY Vodka Lounge. Cheers!

From 24-26 September, thousands of visitors will descend on the city for three days of fashion and beauty. Centred around a catwalk show at Town Hall, hosted by TV presenter George Lamb, fashionistas will enjoy a stunning display of Autumn/Winter fashion from the city’s top stores and brands. Isklar is getting on the fashionable action, becoming the event’s Official Water Sponsor.

No stranger to the limelight, Isklar teamed up with Britain’s Next Top Model last month when they challenged the contestants to their most gruelling challenge; a  photo shoot in -5 temperatures. The aspiring models were taken to Norway’s Folgefonna glacier, the source of Isklar, where they had to wearing nothing more than a dress made out of Isklar bottles!

Isklar won’t be challenging the Style Birmingham Live models however; the 22 catwalk models will be wearing this season’s fashions from top brands at House of Fraser and Harvey Nichols, to high street favourites like Monsoon, Karen Millen, French Connection, Oasis and Marks & Spencer. There will also be a selection of the city’s independent stores, including Mary Portas-praised Disorder, Aspecto, Uber and Matsuki.

Join Isklar, George Lamb and the hottest trends at Style Birmingham Live, from 24-26 September. In addition to the catwalk show, there will also be fashion and beauty events across the city at locations including Bullring, House of Fraser, Harvey Nichols and Pavilions.

Tickets for Style Birmingham Live are just £10 and include a seat at the catwalk show, fabulous goody bag and access to the fantastic events across the city.  There are also a very limited number of Front Row Gold Tickets for just £30, which include front row seats at the catwalk show, stylish chauffeur driven Audi’s around the city centre, a special goody bag, access to The Mailbox Rewards VIP Lounge and lunch. Tickets are selling fast, so book yours now at www.theticketfactory.com.

For more information on this year’s trendiest water, visit www.isklar.no.

The hotel, which is superbly located in the heart of the business and retail district in between New St and Snow Hill stations, is also home to Colmore Bar & Grill.  The addition of this brand new concept Bar and Grill restaurant makes this particular Premier Inn the first of its kind.  Despite being on the doorstep of all the city attractions i.e the Bullring, NIA, The Mailbox, ICC and Broad St, the hotel is remarkably quiet situated in its peaceful and quiet location overlooking St Philips Square.

Attached to the Premier Inn is Colmore Bar and Grill which is a modern, stylish city bar who specialise in competitively priced premium beers, quality wines, champagnes and freshly prepared cocktails by their highly trained staff. The full restaurant a la Carte menu is available in the bar, as are brunch and snacks menus, offering light bites and nibbles. The music is contemporary, with regular events.  From 30th September, the bar will be starting a music night which will see drinks promotions on their gorgeous cocktails.

Colmore Bar and Grill is the perfect venue for all types of socialising, whether it be a quick drink after work, celebrating a special occasion, or entertaining clients. Bar reservations can be made, and most special requirements catered for if pre-arranged.

The 40ft long mini shop caused quite a stir when it took the streets of London earlier this year to launch the new Fourth Floor in Harvey Nichols Knightsbridge. It is now going on a tour of the company’s regional stores.

SB Live visitors will be able to climb onboard and enjoy £5 makeovers and treatments from Space.NK, Trish McEvoy, Butter London and GHD (price redeemable against beauty and perfume purchases in store throughout the weekend). They can also snap up the latest designer T-shirts and lifestyle gifts, get stylish temporary tattoos and strike a pose in the glitter-encrusted photo booth.

The Hub will open from 11am-7pm on Friday, 10am-7pm on Saturday and 10-5pm on Sunday. Those who make a purchase from the fashion and beauty selection on offer will also receive a complimentary Harvey Nichols tote bag.

Raised in Birmingham, Osman is now one of the British fashion industry’s leading designers and will be coming straight from London Fashion Week to take part in Style Birmingham Live. Inspired by his mother’s dress-making business in Birmingham, Osman now styles the likes of Thandie Newton, Dannii Minogue and the former Prime Minister’s wife, Sarah Brown.

The collection he is showing was formed as part of Fashion in Motion, a series of high profile live shows at the V&A Museum, London earlier this year, aimed at showing the movement of fashion with the human body.

Osman’s designs will open each of the catwalk shows, being hosted by George Lamb at Town Hall, paving the way for the hottest looks for Autumn/Winter from the city’s best retailers and brands.

Tickets are selling fast so be quick if you want to join Osman, George and the 22 fantastic models at the show: www.theticketfactory.com.

So, what better way to finish our ‘Hair How to’s’ than this…

Get an easy Hairstyle that works both wet and dry for The Beach and Swimming pool in minutes, by Nicky Clarke International Creative Director Warren Holmes

Life has been ridiculously busy since I was last in Birmingham, shooting the ad campaign for the Pavilions. I’ve been to France and Germany, done two Christmas magazine shoots, worked with Rankin and had my website (www.amodelrecommends.com) shortlisted for a national award!

Despite having a bit of a hectic timetable, I’ve still managed to make room for my ridiculously long-winded beauty regime. That’s because I’m going to be hosting the fashion show at the Pavilions during the Style Birmingham Weekend, and I need to be looking my best. (Especially with George Lamb wandering about the place!)

It’s different appearing ‘in the flesh’ as opposed to being in a magazine spread – for a start, there’s no retouching and no genius lighting. Bad skin and frizzy hair can be sorted out in print, but in real life, there’s nowhere to hide! So this is how I’ve been preparing myself for Birmingham Style Weekend – shall we call it the “Pre-Pavilions” Regime?

1. Twice a week, I make sure that I give my skin a good scrub; I use the Exfoliating Rice Powder from l’Occitane (£18.50) on my face to gently slough away dead cells, and a more gentle exfoliant on my lips to keep them smooth – the Gentle Exfoliator from Clarins (£17) is excellent.

2. I follow this with a masque – Elemis Lavender Repair Mask (£26) is amazing, especially if you have a hangover. (Not that I ever do, obviously.) Whilst the masque is working, I scrub my body with Bliss’s Hot Salt Scrub (£28) which heats up (very weird!) and leaves skin unbelievably soft.

3. For my hair, I use Liz Earle’s shampoo and conditioner, (£7.50 each) which are completely natural and extremely kind on the scalp. There’s nothing worse than a flaky scalp when people are scrutinising you! Whilst my hair is still a bit damp, I apply some serum from Phyto (£20) so that it’s smooth and easy to manage once it’s dry.

4. Before bed (I told you this was a ridiculously long beauty routine!) I use an extra firming body cream from Clarins, (£38.50) or if I’m feeling poor as a church mouse, I go for Boots Expert Firming Lotion that is also incredible, and only £4.99! My newest obsession for my face is the Immortelle Divine range from l’Occitane. The Divine Eyes (£45) and Extract (£65) are amazing anti-ageing products that make your face look fresher and brighter. They’re not in-store until October, so it’s a bit of a tease telling you this, I suppose!

So that’s my “Pre-Pavilions” regime. On the day itself, I’ll be spritzing a bit of Moroccanoil Glimmer Shine Spray (£17.85) on my hair to make it look a bit ‘Hollywood” and slicking on some Shimmer Stick from St Tropez (£15), onto any bare skin -  this is a great mess-free alternative to a body oil and it gives a gorgeous, sheeny glow. I’ll make sure that my lips are in tip-top condition with Clinique’s All About Lips (£15) which is a non-greasy smoothing treatment, and, because it’s a very special occasion, I’ll crack out the Chanel Beaute Initiale (£52 – eek!) which leaves skin perfectly matte and ready for the makeup artist to work his or her magic!

I hope to see you all at the Pavilions over the Style Birmingham Weekend – I’ll be around before and after the shows to chat about beauty, fashion and all things stylish. The more chatting I do, the less of a battering my credit cards will take, so please do stop by!

NW3 Holly Blue Bow Dress £159, Hobbs; NW3 Floral Stripe Scarf £49, Hobbs; Diamante Studs £75, Azendi; Per Una Pink Clutch Marks and Spencer, £19.50; Silver Larissa Bracelet £55, LK Bennett; NW3 Icing Melange Holly Pocket Jacket £159, Hobbs; Sledge Court in light taupe £150, LK Bennett.

Dusky Rose Jacket £30, Necklace (Worn as Bracelet) £10, both H&M

Grove Dress £195, LK Bennett; Art Black Shoes £150, LK Bennett; Feather Cape £60, Monsoon; Midnight Black Heart Earrings £75, Azendi; Midnight Black Heart Bracelet £195, Azendi; Midnight Black Heart Ring £54, Azendi; Purple Kidworth Bench, from a selection at Laura Ashley.

All available at Pavilions.

See Ruth throughout Style Birmingham Live at Pavilions:

Friday 24^th September: 12.30pm 2.30pm 4.30pm

Saturday 25^th September: 12.30pm 1.30pm 2.30pm 4.00pm 5.00pm

Sunday 26^th September: 12.30pm 2.30pm

There’s also a chance to win a goody bag at every show packed with stylish gifts.

In addition to the shows, there will be a pamper pod located in the Food Loft from Friday to Sunday with free makeovers and skin advice from L’Occitane and Destination Skin, plus a professional stylist to help you choose your autumn wardrobe this year.

Fancy an uber-cool top knot updo? Here’s the man to show you how… Follow this simple short movie and get a modern top knot updo seen on JLo by Warren Holmes for Nicky Clarke.