Gallery: Fab leads way at Town fashion night

IPSWICH Town stars swapped the pitch for the catwalk last night in a fashion show to celebrate a former Portman Road favourite.

A host of first team players turned out to strut their stuff at the Seckford Theatre in Woodbridge to support popular Dutch defender Fabian Wilnis' fashion show.

The former Town favourite organised the show as part of his series of testimonial events to mark his successful ten-year spell as an Ipswich Town player.

Wilnis, who left Ipswich in the summer, was also joined on the catwalk by his wife Juliette and three daughters Jada, eight, Kaylee, ten, and Yasmine, 12.

More than 150 people turned out to the event to show their appreciation to the player and enjoy the mix of styles and outfits on parade.

Pim Balkestein, Richard Naylor, Tommy Miller, Dean Bowditch, Danny Haynes, Pablo Counago and David Wright swapped muddy kits for the High Street's most sought-after designs along with their wives and girlfriends on the catwalk.

Wilnis, who was delighted with how the event went, said putting on a fashion show was an obvious choice as he has always had an interest in modelling and clothes.

Shops including Urban Vintage, Coes, Penny Black, Carma, Marianne and Josie June provided the clothes for the models.

Wilnis is planning to stage another fashion show in the spring after the success of last night's event.

Wilnis, who will be lining up for Grays Athletic in the fourth qualifying round of the FA Cup at home to AFC Totton on Saturday, was delighted with the success of the show.

It was the first event in his testimonial year and he said: “It all went tremendously well.

“My former team-mates at Portman Road were a little nervous before they went on the catwalk, but they soon got into the swing of things and did great.

“I certainly had a wonderful time and I hope everybody else did as well. So much so that I would like to stage another one perhaps in the spring.

“I have to thank all my committee, but in particular Pam Davis who organised with shops the clothing we modelled.”

Wilnis is staging “An evening with Wilnis” at the Willis office building in Ipswich on Thursday, November 20.