‘I feel so uplifted’: Yorkshire bridal shop invites ‘real women’ to model dresses

Mandy Abramson in Skipton wants to challenge body image insecurities and give everyone a chance to try on a dress, even if they have no plans to marry

Tucked away in a corner on a steep hill in Skipton, a market town in North Yorkshire, stands the independent wedding shop Cinderella’s. After prompting an incredible response online this week, the owner, Mandy Abramson, is inviting women from all walks of life to try on a wedding dress even if they have no plans to marry. Everyone is welcome, says Abramson.

December is a quiet trading month for the wedding dress industry, so for the past two years Abramson has found a quiet week in her diary where she can hold what she calls “real women modelling sessions”. However, this time round Cinderella’s has found itself packed with budding models. The dresses, ranging from £100 to £2,135, come in all styles and variations.