London Fashion Week AW15 – A Bloggers View

To me LFW is still pretty new, I have only ever been to a couple of seasons, the first completely clueless, the second getting to go backstage at Holly Fulton and then this year luckily getting lots more involved. I guess I have only been blogging for nearly three years so it’s all a pretty new process. I for one never knew that you didn’t have to be accredited to go to the shows and that with a nice enough email you might just be lucky enough to grab those elusive and all important show tickets.

So this season I have been slightly more organised and ahead of time applied for accreditation which I successfully was given. This means I have access to all the showrooms at Somerset House where I can see designers and brands displaying their work. This is a part of fashion week that really interests me as I am always interested in seeing up and coming design talent and featuring and interviewing them for my interview section. I also got a list of all the PR contacts for each designer I was interested in seeing and contacted them for a ticket. Now as a more unknown blogger in the fashion circuit, I wasn’t expecting even to get any tickets, but I was lucky enough to get three for the main schedule and I was pretty chuffed with that.

So yesterday was Day 1 of LFW. I started off with a blow-out at blow-dry bar Blow Ltd who had invited me along for a complimentary blow, just what you need before making your entrance at Somerset House. I went for the luxe blow which is lots of volume and some waves, the whole process at Blow takes only 30 minutes. I left with a goodie bag of beauty products and a very happy hair day.

I then headed to Somerset House to pick up my pass. Never having been accredited before (I funnily enough was last year, but with the mix up of name changes with the blog, I kind of messed it up) I clearly wasn’t sure where to register, so as I was wandering around aimlessly I got asked for a few photos, which is always nice.

I then finally found my way to the registration hall, picked up my pass and map and I was on my way. There was a while yet to my first show which was Eudon Choi at 12.30 so I decided to take a look around the designer showrooms. I started off with he Ready To Wear, where I saw such a fantastic mix of new clothing, ones that caught my eye were Emma J Shipley’s illustration pieces, inspired by astrology and Greek mythology which were just stunning. I also loved the simple and elegant cuts by Deitas, just look at those jumpsuits.

After a brief look around it was time for the show. I took my place in the queue about 12.15 as it was already starting to form, just so I could get in nice and early and get a good standing spot to take pictures. The show itself is over in minutes. Everyone crowds in and paparazzi go crazy at the slightest form of a celebrity. This show it was Lucy Watson and Rosie Fortescue of Made In Chelsea that had attracted their attention. The show began and the collection was beautiful. What really caught my eye were the bright coloured silk pieces, especially the gold/yellow dress, it was stunning. The collection was inspired by the 60’s and 70’s Japanese Metabolism architecture movement.

After the show piled out, I decided to hop straight across to another showroom. This one was a mixture and I first visited the Black PR showroom, which was full of gorgeous jewellery from Kelly Jackson of her brand Only Child. I spoke with her about the collection as it was just so on point, just look how sparkly it is. I also loved Jasmine D-Cruz metallic backpacks, they were great in the bright colours. One room where I got so in awe of was the Heavy London showroom, full of fur and glitter it was definitely emerging talent. I think the key to the showrooms if you are interested is to stop and a have a chat with the designers as you find out so much more behind each collection.

It was only a half day for me yesterday but already I was exhausted, I’m not sure how the full-time fashionistas do it. There was so much of the showrooms I didn’t see and I’ll be visiting them throughout the rest of LFW. Tomorrow I have the Belstaff presentation and a project with Toni & Guy in the very early morning. Then on Tuesday the Christopher Raeburn show, which I can’t wait to see going by the collection from LCM Mens I’m sure sharks may influence. I feel lucky enough to even be involved in LFW as a blogger and the opportunities I am getting.

Oh and if you are wondering what I wore then here you go, I decided on comfort and being warm instead of sky-high sandals hobbling on the cobbles and basically the weirdest thing you can find just to peacock around the square. There is of course fashionistas with genuine quirky fashion, but I feel sometimes all you need to do is wear something a little odd and you’ll get snapped down at Somerset House. It’s so easy to spot the hungry tigers as I now call them. I’m there to see the fashion not to get snapped.

Miss Selfridge Coat, Saint Laurent Trainers, McQ Sweater, Kate Spade Hat,

Rebecca Minkoff Tote and ASOS Jeans.

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