#LFW HIGHLIGHTS

"The Good, The Bad & The Innovative"
Location: London
Date: Fri 16th / Sat 17th / Sun 18th


With big shoes to fill after the phenomenal New York Shows, its Lavish London's turn to step up and strut.
Friday Kicked off from 9am sharp, a day filled with an abundance of designers starting with Paul Costelloe to PPQ.

Too many to name but feast your eyes on the best bits.

Paul Costelloe opened the show immediately setting a different tone showcasing Spring Summer trends in a way we had not seen in New York. Colour pallets still consistent with nudes hints of subtle colour and metallics but reflective of English weather, Costelloe's Spring 2012 included duffel coats and Menswear calf length Macs. 

There is definitely a continental European feel throughout his collection although he is an Irish man his Parisian education and work experience is very prominent in his design process. His trademark being a coat cut for glamour and everyday he took inspiration from 1970 Paris silhouettes and aims to take his designs to the exciting new Chinese markets.

Here's a sneaky insiders eye view into the most innovative designers of the day. If you are someone who desires something different then press play and have a look at the St Andrews University student who pioneered the "urinal Dress" Philip Colbert of label The Rodnik Band.

Saturday, West End saw a 16:00 showing of The House of Holland. A collection of print colour miss matching and quirkiness. Designer Henry Holland originally from Ramsbottom, designs are created with the "London Girls" Aesthetics in mind, taking inspiration for his current collection from "skinheads", film "Leon" and Spanish furniture. As diverse as his inspiration is his collection, press play for front row seats.

Legendary designer never failing to disappointing, in the city at 18:00 tea time was the Spring 2012 catwalk launch of Vivienne Westwoods Red Label.

As always she lived up to hear amazing reputation. The ambiance and the use of fabric manipulation was intense.

She used her historical influences in hair and make up as well as in her silhouettes.
I really enjoyed the styling of this collection. Head scarves dangling from built up hair styles. Lush. I can see this structured way of hair styling diffusing into popular culture in 2012.

One of my favourite collections on Saturday showing at 20:45 in West End was definitely Fashion Fringe. So much diversity and daring styling. Horror film like feel starting off with white metallics and voluptuous sleeves reminding me of angles against Black intense outfits reminding me of demons. The video is a must watch.

"Fashion Fringe was set up seven years ago by Colin McDowell in association with IMG Fashion, in response to the need to support young talented designers in London and to keep them in London. The aim is to discover, nurture and sustain cutting edge design talent across the UK and since 2004 the inspirational and committed business model has helped launch more than thirteen designers onto the London fashion scene. 

The annual project culminates with the Fashion Fringe catwalk event taking place as part of London Fashion Week in September." Parts of this collection for me was reminiscent of Supima who showcased last week in New York.

Sunday saw Anna Wintour snooping around but without Nikki Minaj this time, but surrounded by the likes of Kate Moss and Kristin Stewart.
10:00 in central London popular for their bag designing, Mulberry showcased their 2012 Spring / Summer collection. Take a look.

For me the most Innovative designers had to be the Fashion East collections who launched their Spring 2012 collection in Central London on Sunday at 12:00. A 10 year track record in the industry launching new exciting homegrown designers.

Rate the start of London Fashion week bloggetes. Did it wet your trendy appetites? Tick on of the boxes below.


Stay Sxc xx

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