SARAH Ashton has proved time and again she has the knack of giving beautiful women a winning look.

The young York dressmaker has designed stunning gowns for two Miss York entrants in their bids to become Miss England.

Two years ago Georgia Horsley visited Sarah's shop, Thimbelina of York Ltd, Walmgate, for a fitting for the Miss England competition.

This year Georgia clinched the crown - but guess where the runner-up, 19-year-old Naomi Smith, another former Miss York, was fitted out for her stunning dress? At Thimbelina's.

Now Sarah is going for two accolades of her own - the Women In Enterprise and Small Business Of The Year categories in The Press Business Of The Year Awards 2007.

Sarah, who was a finalist in The Business Personality Of the Year two years ago, has since moved down the road in Walmgate into a three-storey building, as turnover soared by 27 per cent. Customers come from Hull, Harrogate, Scarborough and London.

Her service now also includes specialist alterations and remodelling, with regular referrals from retailers and from recommendations.

Clients include children who are very tall, and adults who are petite, overweight, or who have disabilities.

Most are female, like Sarah and her staff - which puts clients at ease for fittings.

She said: "I understand their body shape and what suits them, and I am sympathetic to the many stresses entailed in the arrangements for the occasion - brides in particular.