Victoria Leeds: Step into a Christmas story of super-glam fashion from Harvey Nichols and AllSaints
In an exclusive fashion shoot with the Yorkshire Post Magazine, Victoria Leeds launches Your Christmas Stories Told, a magical celebration of festive traditions to capture while shopping. Yorkshire Post Fashion Editor Stephanie Smith reports. Fashion shoot pictures by Yorkshire Post Photographer Simon Hulme.
Every family that comes together at Christmas will celebrate the season in its own special way - with its own traditions and customs, its own favourite dishes and handed-down recipes, treasured decorations, knitwear, and must-play games.
Christmases change, of course, as they must, just as families change, as friends and family members are no longer with us, and new faces join the gatherings. But each Christmas brings with it new stories to tell and remember.
The idea of capturing these stories has led to Your Christmas Stories Told, the festive campaign newly launched at Victoria Leeds shopping district, which encompasses the Victoria Quarter and Victoria Gate. Here, family and friends can gather to step inside the giant pop-up pages of The Snowland Storybook, just outside John Lewis, offering a picture-perfect backdrop so that everyone can capture the joy and individuality of their own Christmas story.
Visitors will be greeted this Saturday by The Snowland Storybook’s Curious Creatures, whimsical fairytale woodland characters played by humans disguised by make-up and costume.
Two of these magical creatures - the Fawn and the snow Leopard - joined us as models for our Christmas party fashion shoot with Victoria Leeds.
“Christmas equals connection, with each other, our traditions, our communities and our memories,” says Victoria Leeds centre director Jo Coburn.
“This year, our campaign celebrates the warmth of real Christmas stories, the small moments, the big gestures, and everything in between.
“We wanted to create something that feels truly inclusive and joyful, reflecting the many ways people and families come together at this time of year. The Snowland Storybook does exactly that. It's about capturing memories that will last long after the decorations come down.”
The creative director of the Snowland Storybook campaign is Colin Hill of Chilled Agency, which is based in Leeds and London. He says: “Our creative concept reimagines two favourite Christmas traditions, the family photo and the classic Christmas card, and I wanted to bring these traditions into 2025. It showcases the beautiful, multifaceted ways families are shaped today - a modern take on what ‘family’ means to everyone within the region and beyond.”
The creative campaign was supported by comms and marketing agency The Buzz, based between Yorkshire and London. Owner Leonie Cowton says: "We’ve seen incredible collaboration from all the retailers - from fashion and beauty to home and dining. Everyone’s embraced the spirit of this campaign showcasing the breadth of what Victoria Leeds has to offer.”
Victoria Leeds is asking people to take their photograph in the storybook, share it, tagging Victoria Leeds and #yourchristmasstoriestold - and will be giving away prizes.
The Snow Leopard character for our shoot was taken on by Wesley Branch, a model and freelance dancer who was with Northern Ballet for three years. The Fawn was played by Mariana Kit, a model from London, originally from Ukraine, who also works as an environment manager for a sustainability consultancy.
Both agreed that they will be wearing Christmas jumpers on the big day, “and fleecy red PJs,” added Mariana.
The fashion looks were put together by Rosie J Farnworth-Hall, a fashion stylist based in Manchester. “I work absolutely everywhere,” she says. “You just get posted off to weird and wonderful jobs around the world. I specialise in commercials so I do a lot of TV advertising but also a lot of sports. Sport is such an influential market, with sports celebrities.”
The clothes and accessories here are from Harvey Nichols and from AllSaints. Rosie says: “For so long, especially in the UK, when it comes to Christmas it almost turned into a fashion statement of being understated, just wearing jeans and a T-shirt, stick on a pair of heels, whereas for me, you can never be overdressed.
“I would say, if you are going out out, tailoring all the way. In the shops at the moment, you are looking very much for tailoring as well for women, taking in the waist, bringing back those classic lines.”
A-line dresses are back, she says, adding: “You never ever get bored of all these sequins, sparkles - over the top. Girls, get your legs out, get these little dresses on.”
And for men, also look to classic tailoring, seen with the Givenchy double-breasted suit worn by Wes. Rosie says: “It's really lovely being able to see the pinstripe coming through, so it gives a bit more detail.”
Make-up artist Samantha Helen, from Manchester, transformed Wes and Mariana into Snow Leopard and Fawn. “We wanted a fusion of fashion and make-up,” she says. “We have a silicone-based prosthetic for the Snow Leopard, which we have applied with alcohol paint, and some fishing wire to create some whiskers, which is quite fun, and for the Fawn we have gone for soft, ethereal diamantes and again hand-sculpted horns.
“The diamante eye – this little embellishment at the inner corner and outer corner of our gorgeous Fawn – that is going to be something that people are adding to their Christmas make-up.”
The hair of the Faun was created by Chloe Wilson, from Masters of Craft, an eco-ethical salon in the university district of Leeds. “We have incorporated natural fibres and textures that create an animalistic movement to it,” she says. “It’s like a boxer braid plait, backcombed out and spaced out a bit, a bit of backcombing through the top and to create quite a bit of texture, but also with structure and movement to it.”
Throughout the festive period, Victoria Leeds is supporting Zarach, a Leeds-based charity working to end bed poverty for children and provide families with the basics they need for a good night’s sleep.
On sale will be a limited-edition Victoria Leeds Snow Hare or Reindeer soft toy (£20), with all proceeds going to Zarach.
The Snowland Storybook runs Saturday, November 22, to Sunday, December 14. The team will be on hand every weekend to take festive portraits, along with the Curious Characters on November 22.
Victoria Leeds is home to luxury labels and contemporary fashion with beauty, home, electrical and lifestyle favourites, and renowned names such as Harvey Nichols, John Lewis & Partners, Louis Vuitton, Mulberry, Wax London, North Home, Jo Malone London, AllSaints and many more, plus cafés, restaurants and bars including The Ivy, Uyare and Habbibi.
There is a free gift wrapping or handwritten calligraphy each Saturday opposite the Snowland Storybook (from November 22 to Saturday, December 13), when customers spend £100 or more at Victoria Leeds. Bespoke gift tags and table setting place cards will also be available to customise.
Parkin or Parking: Each weekend, one lucky visitor will win free parking or a slice of traditional Yorkshire parkin, as well as a £250 voucher to spend at Victoria Leeds. www.victorialeeds.co.uk Instagram: @victorialeeds_ TikTok: @victorialeeds_ Facebook: @victorialeedsshopping
Photographer: Simon Hulme; fashion stylist: Rosie J Farnworth-Hall; make-up artist: Samantha Helen; Hair: Chloe Wilson at Masters of Craft, Leeds; Models: Wesley Branch and Mariana Kit; assistant to the photographer: Corben John; videographer: Christian Patterson; make-up artist’s assistant: Keira Sudworth. With thanks to Chilled Agency and The Buzz.