Though most Brighton Fringe acts have packed up and gone home, there’s still one last chance for some showy glamour.  Making the most of its post-Festival timing, Brighton Fashion Week seems on the ascendant this year, with an expanded programme and a visible buzz during lead-up events in May.

Tonight sees the return of the event which started it all, the Brighton Frocks Show (Thursday 2 June, 8:30pm).  A theatrical and eclectic catwalk experience, it prides itself on showcasing off-the-wall collections in an equally unconventional manner.  It’s Brighton Frocks which launched Brighton Fashion Week six years ago – and its organizers say it remains a groundbreaking alternative, capturing the essence of Brighton style.

But the highlight of the programme is surely tomorrow’s Couture Show (Friday 3 June, 8:30pm), which promises to highlight cutting-edge design in a catwalk show at St Martin’s Church.  Big names this year include Masato Jones – a graduate of Central St Martin’s who developed his talent working with Giles Deacon – and Edward Finney, who’s made the move from Saville Row.  The up-and-coming Tim Rhys Evans, already featured in Elle magazine, promises Parisian luxury crossed with classic British design.

On Saturday, the Ready-To-Wear Show (11am to 6pm at the Corn Exchange) offers an accessible approach to high fashion, with all the designers exhibiting on the runway offering their creations for sale at a chic fashion market.  We’re promised make-overs, insider talks and a few unique pieces, all complementing regular shows on the catwalk.  And with tickets at just £6, it surely can’t hurt to browse.

Brighton Fashion Week has ambitions to establish itself as the first step on the road to London – the fashion scouts will be there, we’re told – but despite its recent growth, it’s still well-connected with its local roots.  Brighton-based couturier Joanne Flemming is among those exhibiting all week at Brighton Museum, while Jess Eaton returns to the Couture Show with a challenging and doubtless-controversial collection to follow up on last year’s recycled “Trashion Show”.

The Brighton Fashion Week crew were very visible throughout this year’s Fringe (we particularly enjoyed bouncing on their giant pom-pom on the opening weekend), and it’s great to see the festival expand to fresh creative territory.  We wish them the best of luck with their ongoing mission to develop a new style centre on the South Coast.

For more information and full schedules, visit www.brightonfashionweek.co.uk.

Our thanks to Alex Smithson for her invaluable research on this article.