Some Loves of London

On one of my last days (and nights) in London, I wandered around the Victorian Embankment up to Somerset House, London's venue for the Autumn/Winter 10/11 shows. Just spending time in London makes it easy to see where London-based (and many other) designers get their inspiration from! There's so many different places, people, buildings, art spaces, markets, colours, noises, influences... inspiration, that saturates the city it's no wonder British fashion is as eclectic as it is. And, a reason I love it even more, is amongst all this eccentricity and eclecticism are things that are simply plain and traditionally... British. (Burberry and its famous houndstooth check come to mind here).

Below are some of my snaps of the surrounding area- along the Embankment, then around the Strand (Monopoly references never become the norm!), and up to this little area called Covent Gardens, which had some very cool markets and performers (this is the theatre area, after all).

Skulking around the back of Somerset House... dying for a glimpse!

One of the most talked (or tweeted) about shows on the London circuit was newcomer Hakaan, a Turkish design contest winner whose show was apparently the reason French Vogue's Carine Roitfeld made the cross-channel journey. Apart from his of-the-moment figure hugging sheaths and sexy tailoring, he managed to pull Natasha Poly, Lara Stone, Anja Rubik and Natalia Vodianova for the catwalk. Not bad for a first-timer.

Natalia Vodianova in the first look for Hakaan A/W 2010


Other favourites of mine from London included the mash-up of prints and textures at Peter Pilotto, slinky knitwear (on some not-so slinky girls) at Mark Fast, Matthew Williamson's pairing of silky drapes and heavy layers, and cabled, knitted, pocketed... everything (include new campaign girl (woman?) Tilda Swinton) at Pringle of Scotland.

Pringle's Pockets

And, seeing as I already mentioned the supremely (dare I say original) British brand, here are my favourites from Christopher Bailey's latest collection for Burberry Prorsum. Plenty of coats for Emma Watson to model in yet another fabulous ad campaign I say. The jackets have spoken, bring on winter.

Photos: mine! and catwalking.com

The British are coming (actually, they've been and gone...)

Front row at Burberry


Alexa Chung and Agyness Deyn at Burberry's afterparty


Looks from the Burberry Spring 2010 collection


Julien Macdonald finale

I know it's a bit late to be posting on London Fashion Week seeing as though we're already up to Paris, but London's always so fashion-forward that even the lengthiest of delays can't make this week seem old. The week just gone celebrated 25 years of fashion week in London, and what a week it was! London's Br-It girls Alexa Chung, Peaches Geldof and Hermione Granger's alter-ego Emma Watson were out in force for the week, where the London-cool was translated both on and off catwalk.

Actor-turned-designer Sienna Miller showcased her second collection for label Twenty-8-Twelve with sister Savannah, while Aussie Duo Sass & Bide also showed for the tenth time in the 25 year history of the major event. I wasn't quite sure what to make of the pair's latest showing, with the collection emanating that British cool factor but seeming to rely too heavily upon inspiration from past collections. One particular look- a plain grey tank and denim cutoffs weren't particularly inspiring; but the beading detail of other garments added a much needed element to the show. The highlights of the duo's latest showing included their modern take on gathering which has become their trademark of late, and glimpses of cutouts; a trend that won't be disappearing anytime soon.

An interesting take on glamorous sportswear was seen at Julien Macdonald, where the British maestro paired gauzy fabrics with jersey to create a mermaid slash scuba-inspired collection. After taking the plunge the designer recreated that feeling in a collection: "I felt so good in the suit, I thought, why wouldn't a woman want to feel that way in her clothes?" If scuba was the theme then tight was the motto, with of-the-season body con dresses featuring cut outs and cobwebbing in a palette of building block colours. Sheer panelling helped to give an updated edge to some of the overtly repetitive trends of the season, making Macdonald's minimalist pairings a highlight of London.

Among the atypically quirky shows such as Vivienne Westwoods's Red Label and Christopher Kane, without which London wouldn't be the same, was headline act Burberry. There was definitely no question when it came to the premier show, with the quintessential British brand, headed by Christopher Bailey, ensuring London went out with a bang. An afterparty DJ'd by retired models Alexa Chung and fellow Briton Agyness Deyn (already?), helped along with Brighton outfit The Kooks and attended by fash-pack co-founder Vicky B didn't hurt Burberry's new-found cool factor. The label's latest poster child Emma Watson, previous muse of Chanel's Karl Lagerfeld had the prime seat in the house, upstaging fellow fashionistas Victoria, Gwyneth and Mary-Kate. On-runway also gave us something new to talk about, with the laid back country tailoring of seasons past banished by Burberry-gone-short: draped minis teamed with the updated (read: shortened) version of their iconic trench. With a palette of creamy pastel-ly goodness with a hint of metallic, Bailey was a man with a mission, proving why Burberry is back: and better than ever.

Photos: Zimbio