Once again I must apologise for my inconsistent blogging. The last month has been the busiest ever, though don't ask me what I've done as I literally couldn't tell you. Not in an MI6 way but an actually-can't-remember way. So apologies for that.
However I return with almost the most glorious fashion event of the year (Paris Fashion Week pips it to the post) - London Fashion Week. The funny thing about LFW is that, unlike so many corporate fashion events, the public are free to roam around Somerset House, the home of LFW, practically as they please. Obviously, you need the elusive Press Pass or Buyers Pass to enter the shows (apparently a Blogspot account with a total of 3 followers doesn't quite count as Press) so my friend Katie and I travelled to Somerset House just to soak up the fashionableifnotslightlyintimidatingatmosphere.
IT REALLY IS INTIMIDATING. Never has the fashion world felt so real. The constant totter of heels on cobbles. Keyhole style sunglasses on every face. Taxis with blacked out windows rolling in. Overpriced coffee and DSLRs as far as the eye can see, mainly held by girls blogging street style photos. Unlike we naïvely assumed, the Burberry Prorsum show did not take place at Somerset House but Kensington Gardens. So we didn't casually bump into Cara, Edie or Karlie, which, I hate to say, we did have the tiniest hope of doing.
Peter Pilotto opened the long awaited Monday of LFW with not only model of the moment Cara but a collection inspired by medieval art, featuring lots of vivid calf-length dresses worn with black patent shoes. Pilotto kept with tradition in creating red carpet cocktail dresses but with a masculine edge - think sharp shoulders and psychedelic prints.
Christopher Kane, having been tipped to really make it big this year, debuted his first PPR-held collection to a more than worthy audience, featuring Anna Wintour and Donatella Versace in the front row. I hate to say it, but don't throw out your camo just yet (unless you bought it for a fiver at Reading Festival). The collection focused hugely on camouflage prints on both mini dresses and coats. The mini dresses were crocheted and displayed a mix of shapes from flowers and ovals to a spider-like texture on skirts and tops at the end of the show. In summary, lots of chiffon and ruffles with a hard edge. There were also a few human brain-imprinted tops. If you're into that.
Now the word on everyone's lips - Burberry, a show which literally moved the audience to tears. The Burberry collection was classic with a twist, the twist most definitely being the focus on animal print. Giraffe print roll necks and zebra print tote bags. All clutch bags were big and slouchy which carried off the collection perfectly with a laid back vibe. Their classic Macs were given contrasting sleeves and wet look fabric giving us something different but in short the collection was cave girl gone 21st Century.
I write this post as I travel to London again to soak up the last day of LFW (this time avec DSLR) so cannot attach these photos properly. I shall fix them later when I'm writing exactly the same blog post, but about a different day.
Bises,
Riona
P.S. if you're wondering about the title, it was the highlight of the day. Katie and I were standing at the entrance of Somerset House doing some healthy people watching, when a woman who we guessed was an inhabitant of Somerset House, or at least visiting someone who is, pushed her bike into the courtyard, stopped and said "It's London Fashion Week. Oh bugger." in the poshest voice ever. It's almost as if LFW isn't talked about enough.
