My better-late-than-never review of London Fashion Weekend

I know London Fashion Weekend happened a few weekends ago now (between 21st-24th of February to be exact), but as I wrote in my last post, work has been ridiculously busy so I haven't had time to give my blog the love that I would like to.

LFWeekend is the commercial sister of London Fashion Week, and is held by Vodafone at Somerset House in London (the very same venue as LFW). It gives us mere mortals the chance to grab some great fashion bargains, whilst waltzing down the corridors of the glamorous Somerset House, followed by catwalk shows displaying either the upcoming trends of the next season, or showcasing a designer show from the previous fashion week.

This was my first LFWeekend experience, and I attended with my beautiful Mummy on the Saturday evening. We had tickets which allowed us into the shopping area for a few hours, and which also included entry to the designer showcase of the Issa SS13 collection, a Radley designed tote show bag, and the latest copy of Elle Magazine. I wore a rather adventurous leopard print coat from Karen Millen, with black jeans, and my black Topshop Chelsea boots (you can read my post about those boots here).

The closest I'll ever get to the catwalk!

My Mum and I had a great time browsing all of the pop-up mini shops in the rooms of Somerset House. There were some beautiful clothes and accessories on offer, mostly bang on trend for the coming season. Unfortunately we didn't quite have enough time to make it to the beauty section, but it did look great, with hair cuts from Toni & Guy on offer! There was also a room dedicated to the launch of the Marc Jacobs Diet Coke illustrations, to mark 30 years of Diet Coke.

After our little shopping session we got in line to watch the Issa SS13 collection go down the catwalk. Excitingly these shows are in the same show space as the LFW ones in the Somerset House courtyard, so it really is a great way of experiencing the fashion industry. 

I was delighted to be watching the Issa SS13 collection as it is based on the vibrancy and exoticness of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, as tt made me that little bit more excited about going to Rio next March/April! Daniella Helayel is of course Brazilian, so what better theme for a collection than her native country?

The music echoed carnivale and the rainforest, the clothes were bright and billowy, and the headdresses were reminiscent of the exotic flowers and birds that can be found in Brazil. It was an exciting show to say the least. I just loved the colours and the excitement. To view the original show photos, as archived in Vogue, please click here.

One important thing that I learnt from LFWeekend (and that I had failed at rather miserably the week before at LFW), was how to better capture photographs of fast moving models! The lighting on catwalks actually makes it rather tricky to catch that perfect photograph (unless of course you are a Vogue photographer and have years of experience and thousands of pounds worth of equipment!). 

I really did enjoy my LFWeekend experience (thank you Vodafone!) - and think it's really important for these commercial shows to take place; yes, fashion is often described as "exclusive" but actually more recently it is becoming more "inclusive" and is gaining a lot of inspiration from the hight street itself, so consumer shows like LFWeekend are vital for the industry to show its fans that they are valued. 

Love Lucy x

LFW: My Favourite Looks

London Fashion Week sadly ended on Tuesday evening - but what a Fashion Week it was! (And at least we have Milan and Paris to keep us going!) I don't know about you, but I loved having a look at what all our London based designers had to offer, and I have to say that it reinforced how much talent we have here in the UK. We really are a creative bunch, and I love how creativity is fostered and encouraged by the British Fashion Council, as well as our fashion fans.

As you know, I was incredibly lucky to have attended the Issa London show at Somerset House last Saturday, and as it happens, this certainly was one of my highlight shows of LFW. But I would love to share a few more shows that I feel deserve recognition for their fabulous collections. So without further a-do, here are some of my favourite LFW February 2013 looks:

Mary Katrantzou 

Peter Pilotto

Burberry Prorsum

Mulberry

Aminaka Wilmont

Topshop Unique

Zoe Jordan

Whistles

Tom Ford

Anya Hindmarch

It really was a fascinating couple of days - what with Tom Ford's return to the catwalk, Whistles showcasing their first Fashion Week collection, and fun & games at the Anya show! I would also really love to own that Zoe Jordan dress - it looks comfortable yet divine! 

I hope you enjoyed LFW as much as I did - and if you're missing it then do try and come down to Somerset House either tomorrow or Sunday for London Fashion Weekend! I have tickets for tomorrow afternoon, and there are still some available here!

Another thing to keep in mind is the Vogue Festival on the 27th and 28th of April. I have bought tickets for a lecture titled: "Behind the Scenes of a Vogue Cover Shoot" and I am terribly excited to learn more about the industry. You can buy tickets for that event here!

And finally, please do like my Facebook page, it would mean an awful lot to me as I really want to keep growing my blog and sharing my passion.

Thanks in advance all you beautiful people!

Love Lucy x

Issa London AW13 show at LFW

Last night was, without a doubt, my favourite fashion experience yet. Courtesy of Vodafone VIP I won tickets to see the Issa London AW13 collection at LFW, and I simply couldn't believe my luck! Daniella Helayel is one of my favourite designers - her understanding of how a woman wants to dress is remarkably en pointe. She designs flirty and fun pieces that wonderfully flatter most female figures, and this is what sets her apart from most other designers. Her collections look fabulous flowing down the runway, but are equally like commercial gold.

Me at Somerset House post-show

I attended the show yesterday with my beautiful Aunty, and we had a great time celeb spotting in the run up to the show. The Issa London front row was graced by Zandra Rhodes, Jodie Kidd, Molly and Rochelle from the Saturdays, Laura Whitmore, and Rosie and Proudlock from Made In Chelsea. The pre-show vibe was contagious: you could feel that this was a show the fashion elite were very much looking forward to. 

Cara Delevingne opened the show. From the moment she stepped onto the catwalk she sent out seismic waves of vibrant energy that were warmly absorbed by the excitable audience. Seeing her walk in the flesh really did give me goosebumps. She has It. Whatever It may be! She embodied Issa's woman of AW13, who Daniella describes as "cooler, she wants to explore". 

The collection was designed around the concept of a free-spirited woman exploring the Navajo terrain. Inspired by the gorgeous Navajo landscapes of rolling sandy hills and infinite azure skies, Issa's collection delivered a rich array of gorgeous prints, perfect for that curious and confident explorer. Each piece floated down the catwalk, often with the loose silk fabric flowing behind the willowy models, echoing the winds of the Navajo. Some of the pieces were stunningly topped off with feathered hats by Piers Atkinson, and although some the of models struggled to keep them on, they were the perfect compliment to Issa's collection. Enough writing! Here are some of my favourite designs from the show:

The show was truly inspiring. I love the concept of the explorer woman in the Navajo, and the distinctly Seventies feel to the pieces will surely be popular come the Autumn time. Daniella was clearly more adventurous this season, and her gamble certainly paid off. The inclusion of Cara just made the show that bit more special - she really knew how to wear Daniella's designs as she floated along the runway - in the finale she looked like she was about to take off in her cape!

Post-show was nearly just as much fun! My Aunty and I had a couple of friends in the crowd, so we stayed behind chatting for a while, and when we finally left we bumped into Zandra Rhodes on our way out! 

Zandra Rhodes and my beautiful Aunty 

We also tried to get a few outfit snaps, but just like at the Mary Katrantzou showcase, that didn't really go to plan! But I wore a Zara coat, a black Topshop dress, black French Sole ballet flats, and Collection 2000 lipstick in Shock Pink. See the top photo of this post to see the best snap we got.

If you weren't an Issa London fan before, then I hope you are now! It's a brand that will go from strength to strength (it's got to - Kate Middleton is a fan). So do keep your eye on what they're up to in the future - I know I certainly will! 

Here's to two more days of LFW - I don't want it to end!

Love Lucy x

Mary Katrantzou Showcase at LFW

Last night my boyfriend and I attended an exclusive Mary Katrantzou showcase at Somerset House. He very sweetly said he would come with me seeing as it was Valentine's Day & I love fashion. Vodafone hosted the event on the eve of London Fashion Week as a thank you to some of their lucky customers, and they certainly put on a good show!

I wasn't really sure what to expect before we got to Somerset House, as the only information we got in advance was that it would be a Mary Katrantzou showcase, the location, and the time. When we arrived it became clear that the showcase would be taking place in the British Fashion Council courtyard space, and that we'd be sitting in the same very seats that the fashion elite would be sitting in over the next five days. 

The event was introduced by Caroline Rush - Chief Executive of the British Fashion Council. She quite rightly praised Katrantzou for her innovative, gorgeous designs, and neatly described that the showcase would display Katrantzou's SS12 and AW12 collections, interspersed with a video from Mary, and a peek backstage to see the hair and makeup crews special secrets. Now, I must admit, I was a little disappointed not to be seeing a fashion exclusive, but it wouldn't have made sense for Vodafone customers to see Katrantzou's new collection before the industry specialists. I was just very grateful to be watching another fashion show where I could try to absorb all possible information and experiences. 

During the video of Katrantzou in her East London workshop, she was describing her collections that were shown, and even though the collections had been seen before, it was fascinating to hear her speak about her work. She is obviously incredibly passionate about her work, sassily describing her SS12 collection "nature versus nuture... tulips and under the sea vs manmade metallics", and her AW12 collection as "taking something mundane and turning it into the basis for evening wear". Here are my favourite looks from each collection:

SS12

AW12

Not only were the designs fantastic (although my favourite Katrantzou collection so far is her SS13 one), but Vodafone did make a real effort to make their customers feel like Vodafone VIPs. On arrival we were handed a glass of prosecco, and at each seat was a Mulberry designed LFW tote bag with a special Nails Inc. LFW nail varnish inside, along with Label.M dry shampoo. 

Unfortunately I didn't manage to get a great shot of my outfit, but I wore a Topshop marine blue and black print dress, an orange Zara coat, navy suede heels from M&S, along with my favourite Links necklace. Please excuse the dodgy red eye adjustments on the photograph!

Below is a better picture of the dress I wore, and you can get it here for just £26! I'm definitely going to try and get a few better snaps of my outfit for the Issa AW13 show tomorrow - I just get a little camera shy!

Last night was really great for getting more experience being at the side of the catwalk, & I really hope I get the opportunity to see many more shows - I've definitely got the bug! I'm aware that last night's showcase was equally a treat for Vodafone customers as it was a dress rehearsal for the BFC courtyard space. 

LFW got off to a great start today, and I was particularly impressed with Zoe Jordan's collection (she officially opened LFW) - it was fun, wearable, and very marketable. Tomorrow I am of course very much looking forward to attending the Issa AW13 show with my beautiful Aunty, but I'll also be keeping a very close eye on the David Koma show in the evening, as I was lucky enough to see his SS13 show in September. You can read that post here! And of course, I am far too excited to see Katrantzou's new collection on Sunday!

Happy LFW everyone! I really hope that you enjoy it as much as I intend to!

Love Lucy x

Fashion Forward 2013

The British Fashion Council is one of the most supportive in the fashion industry. They are keen to foster talented UK based designers, who might not otherwise make it in a tough industry. Each year they award three designers a "Fashion Forward" grant to enable them to develop their collections and to establish themselves within the fashion world. Previous womenswear recipients of the grant include Erdem, Meadham Kirchhoff, and Mary Katrantzou - all of whom are continuing to wow the industry. This year's winners were announced on Thursday, and I must say that I'm incredibly excited about one particular recipient: David Koma.

Those of you who have read my blog since September will know that I attended the David Koma SS13  show at London Fashion Week. If you'd like to see my entry about the show then have a look: London Fashion Week: David Koma SS13

His SS13 was a truly stunning collection. His trademark contouring was perfection, his theme was energetic, and his colours bold. He is a designer that plays with shapes and structure, and this innovation has made him a truly deserved recipient of the BFC Fashion Forward grant. To see Vogue's photographs of his SS13 collection, click on the following link: www.vogue.co.uk

The BFC are obviously supportive of his work, and here are a few of my guesses as to why:

SS10

AW10

SS11

AW11

SS12

AW12

SS13

His collections have all been eccentric and exciting, however his SS13 was the most marketable yet. So with the Fashion Forward grant who knows where he could go next? Unfortunately, I don't think I'll be lucky enough to make it to the AW13 show, but I'll definitely be keeping a very close eye on the collection.

I wish David, and the other two recipients - Holly Fulton and Michael Van Der Ham - all the best of luck for their AW13 shows. 

What do you think David Koma's future holds?

Love Lucy x

Tim Walker: Story Teller

Yesterday I finally found the time to go to Tim Walker's Story Teller exhibition at Somerset House, London. I'd been wanting to go since it opened in October, but hadn't found the time since starting a new job and generally doing too much! As soon as I walked into the first exhibition room I couldn't believe that I'd left it so long! His work is utterly captivating. I'll try to sum it up: he's like a child who has been tainted by the darkness of adulthood, and can perfectly translate his anxieties into mesmerising photographs, that are beautiful, intriguing and disturbing all-in-one.

I am often captivated by fashion photography; the photographs of legends such as Nick Knight, David Bailey, and Mario Testino regularly stir up emotions of wonder in me. However Walker is unique in his ability to both horrify and delight in one photograph. His photographs are not for the faint-hearted. He has a way of re-telling the whimsy of fairytales with a dark twist.

Story Teller combines his work from roughly the last 5 years all into one exhibition that barrages the mind. His photographs really make you think. And not only that, but there are crashed spitfires, delicate swan-boats, over-sized china dolls, and giant cello playing wasps interspersed amongst the photographs - props from his extravagant shoots. The photographs containing these props are so intricately put together, often tripping up the person studying them - they're designed to baffle and amaze, and they certainly manage to do so.

The exhibition also includes much more intimate photographs, such as Walker's iconic shot of Alexander McQueen with a skull. His portraiture work is truly fascinating, and the models in these photographs have done a magnificent job - Karlie Kloss, Vivienne Westwood, Helena Bonham Carter - to name a few. Walker has a way of capturing people with the most intriguing expressions. His work is truly unique. But, enough writing, take a look for yourself!

These photographs were just a few of my favourites (there were so many), but hopefully I have given you a flavour of what to expect from the exhibition. 

This exhibition is truly exhilarating, and perfectly celebrates the disturbed genius of Tim Walker. If you want to see it for yourself (which I highly recommend) you only have until next Sunday (27th January) as this is when it closes, so do get down to Somerset House as soon as you can! 

For more information visit the Somerset House website: www.somersethouse.org.uk

I hope I have offered you some Sunday inspiration!

Love Lucy x