There is something genuinely exciting about London Fashion Week for us British girls: something that even the worst deadline can’t make you forget. So you can imagine my outrage when a male friend of mine said he was going to London this weekend for the sole purpose of being at LFW…BUT, for those of us still here in Exeter all hope is not lost – we can still see the very latest trends for AW 12/13 from the comfort of our own beds. The LFW website is showing the catwalk shows as if you had front row seats (bet that essay preparation is looking even less likely now, I sure know what I spent my day doing yesterday!) and so there is no excuse for saying “I didn’t get to see fashion week again!” So here we go, a quick run-down of day one of one of the most exciting weeks in fashion:
This year’s ribbon cutting duty fell to Sir Phillip Green, who many of you will know as having a little something to do with our favourite high street brand Topshop (or as the father of Chloe from Made in Chelsea – jealous or what?!), and as someone who has a large amount of money invested in British fashion. He announced that Topshop’s 10 year sponsorship of fashion week’s new and promising designers – “NewGen” – will be renewed this year. In fact, not only was there the presence of many business men such as Sir Green, but also the culture secretary and the minister for culture and creative industries shows how important fashion week is to us Brits – and not just girls, but to big businesses as well. But enough about business, I’m trying to avoid studying here…
Pick of the Day: On the catwalk today, Corrie Nielson showed a stunning collection of tartan inspired outfits. From red tartan dresses and long coats to tartan inspired hair pieces, it was clear where she got her typically British inspiration from. In some pieces she teamed these prints with large ruffles and layers of material for a much more feminine feel. In the photo on the left, this striking skirt is matched with a beautiful cream top which oozes elegance (why can she do this so seemingly effortlessly and I have tried for so many years and I’m still failing?!) – a truly stunning outfit.
Whilst I do love tartan, I appreciate that there are many Her Campus readers who do not, so, on the right here there is another of Corrie Nielson’s dresses which again, demonstrates the wonderful art of British fashion – why would you want an international designer when this is what Britain can give us? The deep blue of this dress is not only classic, but striking as well. What could have been a simple, blue dress, has been transformed into an elegant piece of art due to the detail across the shoulder and the sash across the front. The accessories to this outfit complete it perfectly, and I have to admit, I adore the shoes! (If anyone would like to send this outfit to me I really wouldn’t be complaining… Just a small hint…).
What’s trending so far? A/W in Britain: tartan, tweed, velvet and lace – a whole season in a few words! Caroline Charles gave us some beautiful pieces yesterday, including this gorgeous velvet dress. Hey, it might be a bit fancy for Mosaic or Arena, but I’m sure I could find some occasion to wear it to… What I love about this designer is her ability to take a classic look, such as tweed and modernise it for the younger generation – brilliant! So, it seems so far for A/W this year, make sure you have the staple tweed, a hint of tartan, and the obligatory lace and velvet for a night out. If you’re daring enough you could follow Caroline Charles and go for the gold pyjama-suit for your December Mosaic trips!
Have a study break and get on the website – ‘till tomorrow girls!
All images taken from www.londonfashionweek.co.uk