As the Fashion Elite Descend Upon London VIVA Goes Down to the Catwalks to Strike a Pose....

With the clicking of heels and the buzzing of the press, Fashion Week descended upon London this September to showcase the best of British fashion. As one of the most prestigious fashion events in the world London Fashion Week not only brought in some of the best of British Fashion but also attracted the starlets and fashionistas that captivated the press with their fashion forward frocks.

Based in the idyllic Somerset House, the grounds were filled with designers and models rushing to-an-fro between showcases and catwalks, while the event made a perfect hunting ground for press and photographers to shoot glamazons in that perfect high fashion item.

As with all Fashion Weeks schedules are hectic and time is always an enemy to the most punctual individual. Catwalks, installations and events were spread thin and far around London, making those worshiped stilettos an enemy to all.

But with tenacity and perseverance there were many jaw dropping and forward thinking collections for the up coming Spring/Summer season to be seen.

As with most fashion events people are interested in what can be seen on the catwalks and how it is translated to the high street. There were many designers that brought in collections that inspired, reinvented and, of course, upheld the British tradition of master tailoring.

To start off Burberry and designer Chrisopher Bailey presented and encapsulated a collection that the public would love. Over 1,500 guests attended the Burberry show in Hyde Park which was the first time the brand has chosen to do a “tweetwalk’ where Twitter followers were able to view each look before it came on the runway.

With a more wearable collection that was dotted with deep colours of plum and mustard yellow, Bailey has created a line that will bring spark and colour to the up coming British summer, however grim and wet it is.

Baileys collection also used busy tribal prints and geometric shapes that brought in a more playful side to the British fashion house. The runway collection will be available exclusively for one week on the website after eight weeks of showing at London Fashion Week. This would make a perfect Christmas Present to stay ahead in the fashion game.

When one thinks of spring, one thinks of colour, flowers and freshness. A mastermind behind prints the label Erdem brought forward florals reminiscent of tropical themed wallpaper, and designs inspired by the femme fatales of Hitchcock’s thrillers.

Of course flowers and spring aren’t a new all inspiring idea, but Erdem’s use of bigger prints combined with tailoring reminiscent of the vixens on the 1950s screen brought a more sophisticated and fresher view for the warmer season.

Another collection that impressed was Jonathan Saunders and his use of light vine paisleys, polka dots and the over all Miami waterfront colour palette of blue, coral and sunny yellow. Saunders’ collection incorporated notes of sophistication with an uncomplicated air, easily wearable and modern.

A highlight of Saunders’ show was his baby blue and light brown polka dot dress. With loose short sleeves and an airy carefree feel, this would be a perfect addtion in your summer wardrobe.

While London Fashion Week is primarily a woman’s affair of five days of non stop fashion, the men’s day offered some of the best men’s collections to come from Britain.

Of the designers at men’s day Topman Design will always be an in house favourite. Titled ‘Rebellious Decadence’ Topman Design’s collection screamed of a youthful bohemia that was littered with Eastern inspired prints on top of silk shirts and bomber jackets.

The vibrancy of colour and the busyness of the prints alone carried the collection to a far away land of warmer seas with a touch of luxury. What Gordon Richardson, creative director of Topman, does brilliantly is connecting the dots between runway and high street. The collection is wearable and will always be a favourite.

On the other hand Christopher Shannon interpreted sports luxe in a more insightful British way. Sports wear material was transformed into a more modern, smarter wear with magnificent tailoring.

Originally hailing from Liverpool Shannon transforms sports wear into a more dapper occasion, which over all gave the entire collection a slick look.

Attention was given to the bright head pieces that some models wore made out of multicoloured combs, which added a bit of flare to the collection. Effectively Shannon Transformed his trademark combination of tailoring and sportswear into a cleaner cohesive collection.

What London Fashion Week and the British Fashion Council do so well with the event is to promote, nurture and develop up-and-coming British talents. The BFC created NEWGEN which sponsors and develops the next generation of British fashion.

Under NEWGEN sponsorship the duo Agi & Sam created an installation that stood out from the rest, being cohesive and reminiscing of a far away beach that is matched with a multitude of bright block colours.

Jackets and shorts were adorned with busy ornate geometric patterns that were splashed with vibrant colours and contrasted with even brighter socks. Overall it was a colourful affair that will certainly brighten up any day, making the collection by Agi & Sam as bold as their colours.

Aside from the catwalks and installations Somerset House hosted a plethora of stalls manned by unique and creative designers ranging from delicately made jewellery, eco-friendly clothes and even a dress that is hauntingly Lady Gaga-esque.

A highlight of London Fashion Week’s exhibition area was its dedicated Estethica space. Five years ago the British Fashion Council set up Estethica to showcase cutting edge designers that were committed to working eco-sustainably.

Designer Rachel Freire sparked controversy with her leather nipple dress where leather cow nipples were  transformed into elaborate florets. Although slightly weird the design uses scraps of leather that would otherwise be wasted and, to be honest, one would never know unless someone said.

While there was a massive exhibition to be seen within Somerset House, photographers were having a field day with the many fashion pushing and trendsetting fashionistas outside surrounding the grounds.

Before catwalks some designers would send models out to display their work from long flowing gowns to more conceptual pieces where multiple models were stitched together, reminiscent of a botched horror show.

With infamous bloggers and fashion elite editors scrambling around various catwalks people were able to see quirky, stylish and bizarre street styles. Fashion Week is the time when you get your best frocks out to impress and to be seen. Although some would dress in bizarre outfits such as full Victorian wear or bunny ears, some displayed their feathers in a more fashionable way.

For the girls cosmic prints and furs were a winner, striking a new out -of-this-world feel, yet reminiscent of the true glamour. The winners for street style on guys would be great attention to detail such as a penny collar or more form-fitting tailoring. Street style is a magnificent way for people and designers alike to gain inspiration and to look more closely in how we wear our clothes.

Overall the collections from London Fashion Week displayed a strong group of designers that is building British Fashion. From nipple cladded dresses to flowers springing up on your dress designers created collections that will certainly give inspiration for the spring/summer season. Although it may be raining constantly or the snow is about to fall, we can all still think of the warmer months and what we should wear.

words & photos: Andre Buenacosa

London Fashion Week Brings on the Glamour