Burberry Prorsum’s starry front row
Ever since Burberry Prorsum’s Christopher Bailey decided to switch the British label’s catwalk show from Milan to London as part of the British Fashion Council’s 25-year celebrations of London Fashion Week, tickets to the show have been the most coveted/hottest. Actresses, models, magazine editors, style icons, retail entrepreneurs, designers – they all scrambled for a ticket to ensure they were papped on the starriest front row of the week. Style crush Mary-Kate Olsen, model Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, socialite Olivia Palermo, American Vogue editrix Anna Wintour, and her French counterpart Carine Roitfeld, as well as Hollywood actresses Kate Hudson, Claire Danes, Mia Wasikowska and Twilight star Kristen Stewart were all spotted perched on the front row at last season’s Burberry Prorsum autumn/winter 2010 show making one hell of an impressive guestlist. Which A-listers will turn up this time? Can’t wait to find out.
Topshop Unique’s show space
You can always trust Topshop to mix it up when it comes to London Fashion Week show spaces. Shunning the official LFW venue (the Natural History Museum followed by Somerset House), Topshop have always done it their way using a bumper hallroom in the University of Westminster and the Flower Cellars in Covent Garden in recent seasons. This fashion week the high street store has gone one better, and will unveil its latest Unique collection in the old Eurostar terminal at Waterloo station. The huge arched space, with large window panels along one side, will see one platform transformed into the Topshop Unique drinks reception area, with the opposite platform becoming the catwalk.
Eco fashion makes its LFW debut
In a first, London Fashion Week will host a sustainable fashion catwalk show at Clarence House. The Ecover supported show will display key looks from a variety of designers and brands working sustainably, including Stella McCartney, Vivienne Westwood, People Tree, From Somewhere and Christopher Raeburn, to name a few.
Giles Deacon’s return
After two seasons showing in Paris, Giles Deacon is returning to the British capital to unveil his spring/summer 2011 collection for his namesake label. After last season’s ‘60s-inspired range - all A-line skirts, fitted tops and cropped trousers (even furry bags with googly eyes) in autumnal colours – we can hardly contain our excitement to see what he conjures up next.
Acne’s salon show
The coolest brand to come out of Sweden, no, in fact make that the world, in recent years will make its London Fashion Week debut this season. Acne, famous for its shearling lined leather jackets and skinny jeans, will host a small and exclusive salon show somewhere in West London for a select number of guests. All details are hush-hush but we’re expecting big things.
Art Against Knives
Luxury retailer CoutureLab is hosting a designer fashion sale for charity during London Fashion Week. An exhibition of donated items will open at the CoutureLab shop in London’s Mayfair on Tuesday 21 September, with all sale proceeds going to the Art Against Knives OurSpace project. One-off pieces donated by the likes of designers Christopher Kane, Gareth Pugh and Marios Schwab, shoe designer Nicholas Kirkwood, and milliner Stephen Jones are all up for grabs.
Christopher Kane said of the initiative: “As a Hackney-based business, we are all too aware of the gang violence that exists. It’s important for us to be involved with Art Against Knives, as it’s a worthwhile cause that fosters artistic growth and creativity within our community.”
To take a peek at the exhibition pieces head down to the CoutureLab shop, 37 Davies Street, Mayfair, London, W1K 4LS between 10am and 7pm on Tuesday 21 September.
Happy Birthday Fashion East!
Fashion East, the brainchild of Lulu Kennedy, celebrates 10 years this fashion week. The initiative, which showcases emerging design talent, already counts Richard Nicoll, Marios Schwab and Louise Gray as former students. Happy Birthday!
Picture: The Topshop show space.
