On the Appleby catwalk: Bare flesh and Gucci belts are the order of the day at horse fair

Fake tan, bare flesh, cowboy hats, Gucci belts and Louis Vuitton handbags – the Appleby catwalk was in full swing today as travelers showed off their favorite fashions on day two of the horse fair.

Dozens of women wore skimpy outfits and showed off designer labels, attracting almost as many admiring glances as the horses riding around the Cumbrian market town of Appleby-in-Westmorland.

The style-conscious members of the traveling community ignored the overcast skies and the risk of fake tan during occasional rain showers as they stepped out on what has become known locally as the Appleby catwalk.

One woman wore a belt from fashion house Gucci paired with a Louis Vuitton handbag, while others wore figure-hugging dresses, Crocs and Ugg boots. Men wore Under Armor tracksuits and trendy Addidas sneakers.

Many of the young and not so young women wore false eyelashes, heavy make-up and glamorous hairstyles as they strolled through the market stalls set up in a field selling clothes, household items, toys, fast food and horse riding. accessories.

Two girls seem less than impressed by their horse’s attempt to walk down the stairs

Today, on day two of the fair, a range of designer goods and fur coats from Gucci were on display

Dozens of women wore skimpy outfits and showed off designer labels as they drew admiring glances

Thousands of people will flock to Cumbria for the annual Appleby Horse Fair

People seemed to be in good spirits as they enjoyed the nice weather

These four pose with a smile for the camera at the horse fair with beers

Others, in short skirts or tight trousers, went on horseback or hitchhiked in horse-drawn ‘murky’ buggies for the short journey to the city centre, where horses were driven into the River Eden next to the main bridge.

The well-dressed women included young mothers with children in buggies or walking alongside them.

The designer accessories on display included handbags from Chanel, Gucci and Dior, as well as Luis Vuitton Pochette Félicie bags that cost more than £1,000 each and Chanel flap bags that retail for more than £5,000.

Meanwhile, other women wore belts from Christian Loubotin and Gucci, sometimes paired with frayed shorts and crop tops.

Some opted for practical, all-weather Crocs shoes as they tended their horses by the River Eden, but others wore Balenciaga sneakers and Hermes sandals or teetered through muddy fields in high heels.

Burberry-style outfits, including tight leggings, were also in evidence, while others showed off a range of flashy colours, or opted for flowing dresses, sometimes with bare midriffs.

Groups of boys, many with slicked back haircuts and dressed in Boss T-shirts and jumpers with matching tracksuits, were also seen walking and running around in their horse-drawn buggies.

But it was a different story earlier in the day when some women stocking up on essentials at shops in the city appeared to be wearing pajamas and dressing gowns before getting dressed for the day’s festivities.

The horse fair, the largest gathering of gypsies and travelers in Europe and lasting until next week, is expected to attract around 40,000 visitors, most of whom are visiting the city today and this weekend.

About 30,000 of the visitors who have arrived in cars, caravans, by train and even in horse-drawn carriages are expected travellers, while another 10,000 are horse enthusiasts from the established community.

Two travelers were sitting on top of their carriage in good spirits

Travelers have gathered in Cumbria as day two of the fair gets underway

The area will be decorated with modern caravans and the traditional Roma horse-drawn green canvas bow caravans

There are more designer items on display, while the person on the left shows off a Louis Vuitton bag

Irish traveler Laura Cassidy, 23, said: ‘Appleby is always a big event on the calendar for travellers, and of course everyone wants to dress up and look their best.

‘You may be trudging around in the fields or riding a horse, but that doesn’t mean you can’t look good. Travelers have always been concerned about how they look. Who doesn’t want to look good.’

Another traveler who asked not to be named said: ‘This is an annual event and it’s a chance to get together with old friends. There is much to see and do. It’s not just looking at horses.

‘Of course girls want to dress up. If they are single, this is a chance to impress the boys. Appleby is a great place for families, but it’s also a great place to find a new boyfriend if you want to.’

Local residents in the town, which normally has a population of 3,000, have mixed feelings about the event that effectively takes over their city, closing streets and imposing one-way systems.

While some are taking advantage of turning their fields into £10 a day car parks, others have grown tired of the disruption and many are leaving the city for the duration of the fair.

Rows of shops and three of the town’s four pubs are closed, as is the local library. But the co-operative, a greengrocer, the town’s two butchers, two cafes and even a traditional sweet shop have remained open to meet the influx of visitors.

Shops that have closed include a carpet shop, a gift shop, travel agencies and a clothing store that also does dry cleaning.

Chris Wilson, who runs the Sugar and Spice sweet shop, said: “We love the fair and I have no problem with it staying open.

‘Of course there are some little idiots, but you have one percent who are troublemakers everywhere. There are guys in this town I won’t let in. I’m not taking much more than usual, although I’ll probably do double my usual business tomorrow.’

Michael Dowding, who runs N & J Dowding Family Butchers, said: “We are operating our normal hours. We don’t see many locals this week because so many people are leaving the city, but a lot of travelers are coming in.

The activities come as Cumbria Police issued an appeal for calm during this week’s Appleby Horse Fair

The small town of Appleby-in-Westmorland, Cumbria, usually has a population of around 3,000, but this week this figure is set to rise to more than 30,000 visitors.

These three seem to be enjoying their day as they enjoy drinks on day two

‘They like things they can cook on the barbecue, like steaks, lamb, burgers and sausages. They appreciate getting quality for their money. We have no problem with it.’

Davina Osman, 78, who runs the Collectable bric-a-brac shop in the town, said: ‘Personally I enjoy the fair here. There are older members of the traveling community who like old things and like to come in.”

A large number of police officers are visible on the city streets, as well as RSPCA staff and officials from other equine charities.

Cumbria Police have appealed for calm and said they had made two arrests yesterday for people who allegedly obstructed RSPCA officers checking on the welfare of horses.

Meanwhile, the Public Hall has opened its doors to travelers to set up stalls selling Roma and Gypsy memorabilia

Food stalls line the streets selling hamburgers, chips, hot dogs, curries, donuts, cash registers and other fast food.

Meanwhile, the market stall has stalls selling glamor clothes for babies, as well as household items such as water bleach, as well as designer sunglasses and knock-off designer items.

Rosina Phillips, 71, from South Wales, who attended the fair with her border collie Bronwen, said: ‘It’s a magical atmosphere. It’s so beautiful to see the horses and listen to the sounds of people laughing and being happy.’