Prepare to strike your best pose and perfect your strut.
London Fashion Week returns to the capital in September for the second show of 2019, and for the first time in its history, the British Fashion Council are opening the doors to the general public.
Whether you’re a trend-follower or a trendsetter, make a beeline for the capital and snap up one of their tickets, along with London city breaks package deals and get a sneak peek at how the world will be dressing next spring and summer.
Of the four global fashion weeks, New York, Paris and Milan being the other three, London is the first ever to grant entry to the public. Typically, these shows are trade-only events, reserved for influential figures in the fashion world – designers, buyers, journalists and editors. These experts then have the task of reporting on what they see and informing the world what, and who, to look out for.
This autumn, the British Fashion Council are expanding the reach of the event by opening up six catwalk shows, to ‘increase engagement and reach new audiences for designer businesses.’ There are six shows available, spread over the weekend – Saturday 14 September and Sunday 15 September.
London Fashion Week itself is a five-day affair running from Friday 13 – Tuesday 17 September. If you are planning on coming to London to see the show, look out for weekend deals at The Barbican Hotel London. You’ll probably feel inspired to hit the shops after the show, so factor in some time for retail therapy, or at least some window shopping.
Who?
Over 250 designers will be showcased at London Fashion Week, ranging from household names that you will know, to radical, emergent new designers.
Your ticket includes two shows, and so depending on which catwalk session you chose to attend, you will see the collections of a pair of designers as listed below.
Saturday 14 September, 10am – 12pm
FYODAR GOLAN
Founded by Fyodor Podgorny and Golan Frydman, FYODAR GOLAN’s designs are a movement of passionate self-expression through the use of vivid colours merged with elevated sportswear aesthetics. The duo has dressed Madonna, Rihanna, Rita Ora and Jenifer Lopez, to namedrop a few.
Ports 1961
Lead by Creative Director Natasa Cagalj, Ports 1961 represents fresh, modern luxury. In her designs, the old world meets new world, masculine meets feminine resulting in a climactic blend of concepts and cultures.
Saturday 14 September, 1pm – 3pm
Marques’Almeida
Marta Marques and Paulo Almeida present cool, raw, relevant and effortless high-end fashion aimed at younger consumers who want to make a bold statement.
Molly Goddard
Molly Goddard’s designs are said to be ‘equally suited to the pub as the red carpet’. Her target consumer is the straight-forward, uninhibited and comfortably over-dressed woman.
Saturday 14 September, 4pm – 6pm
TOGA
Yasuko Furuta, Founder of TOGA, designs clothes with hidden complexity and nuanced layers to tell a curious narrative – echoing the traditional toga.
House of Holland
Henry Holland addresses his designs to the London girl. He takes inspiration from the variety of attitudes, cultures and mindsets that exist throughout the UK capital. the House Of Holland girl is cool, confident and savvy and wears labels without letting them wear her.
Sunday 15 September, 10am – 12pm
DAVID KOMA
With a background in Fine Art, David Koma creates sculptural statement dresses to heighten the silhouette shapes of the feminine form.
Preen by Thornton Bregazzi
Justin Thornton and Thea Bregazzi founded their label on an aesthetic of darkly romantic and effortlessly modern. They mix masculine with feminine, hard with soft.
Sunday 15 September, 1pm – 3pm
Margaret Howell
After starting her brand at home in 1970, Margaret Howell now has shops in London, Paris, Florence and Tokyo. She considers clothes as part of a lifestyle rather than a passing trend, valuing material, make and style.
Victoria Beckham
Victoria Beckham’s statement style is the drawing together of flattering shapes and combinations of colour which are persuasively easy to wear.
Sunday 15 September, 4pm – 6pm
Emilia Wickstead
Emilia Wickstead’s designs of modern silhouettes and vibrant colours are the epitome of modern femininity. She takes inspiration from traditional elements and adds a contemporary edge.
Simone Rocha
Irish Simone Rocha is known for her in-store installations and windows with her premium retailers, featuring her signature Perspex furniture and hand-made sculptures.
What?
A standard ticket to any of these six shows costs £135 and includes access to the catwalk show of your choice. It also grants you entry to the BFC Positive Fashion Exhibition and admittance to the Positive Fashion Talk. At the exhibition, you will see how the work of progressive designers presents compelling stories around topical issues such as sustainability, community and ethics. The talk is a panel discussion lead by hot industry names.
Your standard ticket also comes with a complimentary drink and LFW tote bag.
A front-row ticket will set you back £245, and yes, this will be a coveted seat on the famous ‘FROW.’ The shows are the same as those listed above, and you can also attend the exhibition and talk. Your tote bag will be filled with chic goodies, and you will be welcome in the VIP lounge so you can feel like a real fashionista by the time you return to The Barbican Hotel London!
Remember, the autumn-held London Fashion Week previews the collections and trends for the following summer/spring season, so this is your chance to get ahead of the game and see what you’ll be wearing thorough summer 2020.
Where?
All London Fashion Week activity takes place in The Store X, which is an iconic brutalist building found at 180 Strand and known as being a hub for creatives, entrepreneurs and dynamic thinkers.
From The Barbican Hotel London, the venue is a 30-minute walk or save your feet by hopping on the Circle Line at Barbican and alighting at Temple.
And most importantly, what are you going to wear?
