While students of the UK were out experiencing their first week of being a fresher, a novel experience only due once in our lives, London was experiencing a week that we’re lucky enough to enjoy twice a year. Long awaited by those in fancy cars and fancier heels, London Fashion Week fell upon the capital again in one of it’s most exciting years to date. Only available to the industry slaves, experts or the very famous, securing a ticket to one of the events is much like being scouted to be a model – most likely to never happen to any of us.
But instead of sitting at home, living vicariously through Instagram and Twitter (the main sources for instant pictures and information on #lfw) I decided to do a Mary Poppins, jump into the picture and see if it came alive. And boy oh boy, did it come alive. Somerset House became a hub of labels, the only noises being the clicking of a camera shutter or perhaps a stiletto across the cobbles. The atmosphere was both excited and unexpectedly calming – no doubt a side effect of all the fashionistas effortlessly oozing glamour, a great relief to silence the nervous first-fashion-week-please-don’t-disappoint butterflies doing somersaults in my stomach. Shows were beginning and ending all over London, models were pulling up in Mercedes’ while cameras which ranged from the modest blogger to broadsheet journalist zoomed in on every accessory, every slight expression. Girls were pulled aside, photographed, thanked and moved on. It’s the fast pace you expect from an industry that spends six months working on a collection, to churn it out in a catwalk show lasting less than twelve minutes.
Some of the most groundbreaking names (I’m looking at you Mary Katrantzou) predictably delivered their statement style with a new season twist. Working hard to stay in the spotlight since her explosion onto the London fashion scene, the graphic stamp print was sticking to what she knew best. Others were a little more wild with experimentation, Peter Pilotto asks exactly how many patterns can we cram onto a piece of fabric? While Zoe Jordan’s cultural mashup is the ultimate cool in ready-to-wear; from European traveller, to effortless business woman, her collection painted a persona with every outfit. Not that I got into any of the shows; despite my pleading, my wailing, my pure desperation. Next year perhaps. Although ladies, remember for the upcoming February 2013 fashion week, it’s a massive faux pas to turn up in flats (this includes Toms, even if you are trying to emulate everyday New York fashion) when nothing less than a four inch heel is acceptable. Unless you’re male and in metallic teal brogues that scream nothing less than ‘extravagant merman’, of course.
First published by Spark* Newspaper: http://sparknewspaper.co.uk/fashion-beauty/london-fashion-week/
No comments:
Post a Comment