Lydia May Shackleton-Jeffery, 18 and Leanne Goldsbury, 23 will be working with The Fort after winning a competition which launched on Facebook, offering those individuals with a passion for fashion the chance to style the shopping park’s autumn winter campaign. As part of the prize, the winners got to spend time with their very own stylist mentor and appear within the shoot itself, they will also host styling events and writing blog posts for the website.

The new Fort Stylists were joined in the campaign by three professional models, all wearing this season’s fashion offerings from The Fort’s retailers including; New Look, Moss, Warehouse, River Island and Next.

Mentors, and local stylists and bloggers, Emily Jayne Phillips and Emma Russell, were also on hand to guide the girls in selecting and styling outfits for a campaign.

Lydia, who has only recently moved to the city from Cheshire to start a Fashion Business and Promotion degree at Birmingham City University said “I was delighted when I found out that I was one of the winners. I have loved the whole experience so far and can’t wait to be involved in all the campaign activity that will be happening at the Fort up until Christmas. The shoot day gave me a really fantastic insight and spending time with my mentor, Emma, was wonderful experience.”

Local girl Leanne, who is in her second year at Birmingham City University and works as a retail fashion assistant said “I never in a million years thought I would be chosen as one of the winners. To have an insight into the industry was incredible and inspirational. The support I had from my mentor Emily and being able to be a part of the decision making throughout the day made me feel like a member of the team and, getting in front of the camera was fun too, if not nerve-wracking!”

The two final Fort Stylists will join the line-up of previous local campaign ambassadors which have included local community heroes, a Birmingham based family and talented music artists.

Marjan Horne, manager of The Fort said: “A huge welcome to the new Styled By The Fort stylists and congratulations on winning. Our retailers have a fantastic fashion offer and we look forward to Lydia May and Leanne helping us showcase it as we run up to the all-important party season. We want our shoppers to be inspired for autumn winter and get involved in celebrating their own love of fashion through this fun Styled By The Fort campaign.”