London Fashion Week Kick Off!

The time is very much NOW.  London Fashion Week’s official kick off is today, followed by the start of the London Design Festival from tomorrow.  It’s a beautiful crisp day, autumn is in the air and so is the anticipation for the creative potential set to be unleashed.  I will chat a little about London Design Festival tomorrow – for today ladies and gentlemen, it’s ‘FASH-WON’ all the way.  This Summer may be coming to a close... but next Summer is just about to begin!

So last week the excitement began, of course in New York. Fashion Week was a triumph over there as usual, with the main story transpiring being that of 70’s inspired colour and silhouette.  Nice.  The biggest excitement for me personally was British designer Sophia Kokosalaki (we've got to wave the flag over there too, don't we?), unveiling her first catwalk collection for Diesel Black Gold as womenswear Creative Director.  Her sexy, yet feminine; hard, but soft signature style, was prominent and picturesque.  Kokosolaki’s used a lot of leather and a neutral colour palette; a lot more subdued than the rest of the week’s more obvious bright collections.  Diesel called the collection “an ode to the wild creativity of the West Coast arts and crafts movement, the free spirit of rock festivals and the sun-drenched landscapes of California, as seen through the eyes of Kokosalaki”. Go to the Diesel Black Gold website to see the entire show - it really is 70's Californiatastic and yummy.  Roll on next summer girls – it’s going to be a sizzler! 

My blog, however is not about New York, it’s about LDN, thank you very much, but if you were excited by NY, then just wait and see what London has to bring.  After all, what NY is to sophistication, London is to ‘cool’.  Bring it on! 

 

As well as the prominent players in the our city’s fashion scene, what I love about London Fashion Week more than anything, is it’s strong support of new emerging designers.  I am as excited as ever to see this year’s winners of BFC NEWGEN sponsored by TOPSHOP, which has brought us the likes of Alexander McQueen, Julien McDonald, Gareth Pugh, House of Holland, Marios Schwab and Christopher Kane; most of these now key features in the week’s catwalk schedule. This year's winners include David Koma, Holly Fulton, Louise Gray, Mary Katrantzou, Michael van der Ham and Peter Pilotto. From Koma's powerful and confident female attitude; to Louise Gray's mad textural mix with a street edge; to Katrantzou's bold industrial jewellery and crazy prints - there will be lots to talk about.

 

Let’s not forget NEWGEN ‘MEN’, which has followed in the footsteps of the original scheme, since 2009 (SS10 show), which has brought us the likes of Carolyn Massey - a super talented menswear designer, who I remember clearly could roll off every seasonal trend and catwalk collection since the dawn of time, from any designer – you name it! (we were at university together back in the days spent fighting over dress dummies and fabric swatches – ahh – memories).  With men spending more and more on fashion than ever before, designers such as Carolyn Massey and James Long are like dynamite and will be explosive.  Be warned.

With so much fresh talent – and I mean ‘fresh’ – London is set to be making headlines again this year, so keep your ears to the ground and eyes wide open.  I’ll post again at the end of the week, once every last bottle of Moet has been drunk and dust has settled on the final runway.... it should be interesting.  

In case you're not sure where to go this week, Red Maps has created and handy guide to get you about town.  I know where I'm going, after all, I am 'Design Girl About Town' - but do you?! Do not fear, that's why I'm here (to inform you how) - so check out the Red Maps Blog for lots of handy tips; where to eat, drink and of course shop.  Enjoy.

One last thing - when you are out and about this week, MAKE SURE YOU REPRESENT!  This is London, WE are London, YOU are London… look good, strut your stuff and make an impact.  Just because you’re not on the runway, it doesn’t mean people won’t be watching.  They will.  We always do! (**evil laugh optional**)