THE GLAMOUR and sophistication of evening wear is to be contrasted with Swinging Sixties style at a student fashion parade.

Second-hand wedding and bridesmaids dresses are being revamped into fashionable new-for-old styles for the GCSE exams show.

The young designers are to display their imaginative creations on the catwalk at Ian Ramsey School, Stockton, on Tuesday for parents, governors and guests.

Karen Pemberton, deputy headteacher, said: "This is a wonderful celebration of young talent and creativity. It has been amazing to watch the transformation of the wedding dresses into these stunning new outfits. The students are to be congratulated."

Supporting the budding professional designers are the charities Scope and Cancer Research, which donated the wedding dresses, Saks hairdressers of Yarm Lane, Stockton, which will be styling hair, Virgin Vie cosmetic make-overs and Traidcraft.

In a dress rehearsal, student models wore the perfect outfits for a night to the theatre, a lilac-caped gown and a maroon and gold dress, with the wearers sporting enigmatic masks.

The recreated Sixties swingers donned flower power denim dungarees and a two-tone beige and black mini dresses.