London Fashion Week preview

The shows, the clothes, the parties – what to look out for in the days ahead. By Danielle Radojcin

London Fashion Week begins today and ends next Wednesday. Here's a round-up of the all the major things going on for the duration. Among the designers presenting their autumn/winter 2009 collections, the names attracting the most pre-press are Kinder - the cult designer beloved by fashion insiders who is going mainstream with his first ever catwalk presentation, - and Twenty8 Twelve, designed by sisters Savannah and Sienna Miller. Marios Schwab, Erdem and Christopher Kane, meanwhile, remain the hottest tickets in terms of design kudos. Among the up and coming names to watch, the collections every fashion editor will be clamouring to see include Eun Jeong, last season's Fashion Fringe at Covent Garden winner, Mark Fast, a London-based Canadian noted for his knit dresses, and Mary Katrantzou, a Greek Central Saint Martins graduate known for her bold prints. And of course there's the Old Guard - Paul Smith, Vivienne Westwood (showing her Red Label) and Nicole Farhi.

It's not just about the shows, of course. Among the design hopefuls vying to get noticed by the fashion press there's a host of different events going on. These include two pop-up shops: Mary Portas' initiative for Save The Children at the tents at the Natural History Museum and the Jemima Khan-backed Azzaro on Mount Street. Two fashion exhibitions are opening: Simply Madonna at the Truman Brewery, showcasing the pop diva's stage outfits over the years and Hats: An Anthology by Stephen Jones at the V&A. The opening party for the latter next Monday, where the dress code is "decorate your head" is slated to be the big event of the week. Mulberry, Brown's boutique and Joseph, meanwhile, are also throwing a fash bash. So, despite the recession, and despite the shortened time-slot, London Fashion Week is already fighting back with a line-up that promises to be just as inspiring as ever. Lights, cameras, action!

londonfashionweek.co.uk

Picture: Luella, spring/summer 2009