London Fashion Weekend: My Day Diary

London Fashion Weekend: Casey’s Diary

By Casey in : Events, Fashion Week // Sep 28 2009

A grand, brand-spanking new venue overlooking the Thames, Champagne running like water, on-the-spot makeovers, beauty freebies and more high-end and environmentally-friendly designers than ever before!

With my Gold Ticket, I went along to Somerset House and 180 Strand to experience and take part in the joys of London Fashion Weekend. Sadly, the 25th Anniversary of LFW came to an end a few hours ago, however, the memory will still live on, vividly, as I have taken a few snaps and journalised how my day went to share with all my fellow fashion junkies.

9am: The day started off with myself and 29 others boarding a very un-London like blue double decker and heading towards our destination.

10am – Arriving at Somerset House we collect our wristbands and have just enough time for a little browse. The Gold Ticket was all worth it! Over 130 designers were offering astonishing discounts. From high profile to the emerging, including Mawi, PPQ, American Retro, Emma Cook, Luella, Angel Jackson and many more.

On my travels I found a beautiful rabbit fur jacket, I fell in love, however my budget wasn’t quite covering it. Of course no recession is going to beat a £10 mani-pedi in the pop-up Salon!

I also got myself a half price subsription to Elle magazine and received a free Vivienne Westwood fragrance and an Elle goody bag, complete with 3 Paul & Joe vest tops. Love it!

11am – We took our seats in the catwalk tent and waited as the show made a prompt start. With 25 designers listed we were eager to get a sneak peek of the new trends!

The catwalk styling was done by Miss Molly, signed to Joy Goodman and stylist for Alesha Dixon. Miss Molly has worked with our very own Reem Kanj during the Brit Awards 09 when Reem designed a dress for Alesha.

I had a quick word with the runway host Louise, and asked her how she felt about being this years LFW catwalk host:

“I’m thrilled to be back on the catwalk hosting the trends show, running through next seasons hottest looks with tips on how to wear them”

She even let me into her little secret which I will share with you guys:

“Get to the handbag and swimwear stores first! Their pieces sell like hot-cakes and there’s little or no reserve stock, I missed out on the cutest clutch last season because I dilly-dallied and then they were all gone!”

The show began with this seasons biggest trend, ‘The Shoulder’. Shoulders are back, and they are big. This trend has revisited us from the 80′s and revived itself in chicness on all levels, from the high end to the high street.

[Dress-Lipsy. Tights-Bebaroque. Bolero-Bernard Chandran. Leggings-Alice & Olivia.]

The next trend to make an appearance on the catwalk was ‘The Print’. Prints are a staple of every season and every wardrobe alike, yet this season is different. From aztec to tye dye and florals, there’s a print to to please anyone.

Kaledascope prints and wonderful new techniques in the technique of digital print give this trend a full make over into the future.

[Dress1-Ashley Isham. Dress2-Jean Pierre Braganza. Collar-Rebecca Bradley. Belt-Alexander McQueen]

The third trend of the show was inspired by ethnic prints and intricate details by Manish Arora. Since launching the Manish Arora label in 1997, Manish has gone from strength to strength – being featured across the international fashion press and finding fans amongst celebrities from Anoushka Shankar to Katy Perry.

His rich palette of psychedelic colours and kitsch motifs, in garments that combine traditional indian crafts like embroidery, applique and beading with the Western silhouette has gained the Manish Arora label international acclaim.

A favourite on the LFW schedule, Jaeger was the designer that closed the show. Celebrating its 125th anniversary as a luxury fashion house, Jaeger’s designs took to the runway with office wear for this season. With their flair for architectural sihouttes and high-tech fabrics, this is a label forging an international reputation for an intrinsically British sense of style and luxury.

As the show drew to a close, the models took one last strut along the runway. What a show!

1PM – After the show and a spot of lunch. We made our way to 180 Strand to get a hold of one of the 100% Organic cotton show bags which were designed by Eley Kishimoto and packed full of goodies.

Here’s just a little sneak peak of how many freebies I got!

3PM – After collecting our show bags, exhausted from walking around all day, we were greeted by an open-roof top red double decker to take us all home. (A bit more London like!)

So until next time, that’s all for the scoop on London Fashion Week 2009!