"As London Fashion Week has just come to a close, the blood pressure of the city rises as the majority of the capital's commercial community try to cash in on the action. High street stores are desperate for the official logo to display in their windows to try and prove affiliation and bars/restaurants dish out whatever necessary to try and secure the Holy Grail... the fashion party.
The real anxiety though is happening behind closed doors. Designers are still sewing hems and PRs are frantically scribbling names and seating allocations on tickets - it's a nerve-wracking time for all parties concerned, not least because the entire industry is on no sleep. Fashion week is a strange time; many roll their eyes claiming it’s all nonsense and that they go through the motions.
Just to get this straight, they’re lying.
Yes, there are frustrating times – enduring delayed shows, schlepping around London in the necessary uber heels and the endless small talk; but there is also an excitement when the lights go up, the music hits the loudest decibel permitted by the show venue and the first model walks out. There is a feeling of being a part of this multi million pound industry, witnessing the world’s most revered threads coming through the rag trade’s proverbial birth canal, while being surrounded by the international fashion elite. Sorry, but that’s just cool!
As my busiest day of shows was drowned in rain, I wore an oversized silk parka, my fave skinny Paige bandage jeans, American Apparel stripy snood and distressed leather boots. The outfit gave good defence against the wet devil but sadly after the 4th show it was clear my hair had taken the brunt. The shows ran inevitably late, which gave me a good chance to scrape the hair back and do some front row spotting. My most fashionable 'spot' was Kate Moss - all tiny frame of her. She wore a grey cigarette pant suit (probably Stella McCartney SS11 but Next is always a trusty destination for tailoring), a wide brim felt hat and a pair of heels. An easy ensemble to achieve but would we look as effortlessly chic?
Sadie Frost clearly didn’t have time to think her outfit through. In fact, are leggings, running shoes and a beanie even classed as an outfit? Hats off I guess for having the gumption to rock up to a front row with Kate Moss looking like that. It did help to even-out the feeling of total inadequacy every woman in the room was feeling though.
Next stop - the NME awards. Scottish designer Christopher Kane’s intergalactic print mini dress perched atop Alexa Chung’s ladder-legs. Cute print, as it should be for £995 - find more accessible cosmic print dresses at Lipsy and Motel. Marina Diamondis wore a floor skimming white dress accessorised with a chunky crucifix and wrist gloves a la Madonna circa 1984 and Kate Moss channelled Morticia in a Pam Hogg black leather dress. Mark Ronson’s girlfriend Josephine De La Baume, obviously unsure whether to go biker or floaty feminine so did both, and lost. Oops!
As the fashion circus has now re-located to Milan, one question remains in its wake. With all the orange, yellow and busy prints on the runway for AW11, is it ok that I’m already nervous about what to wear come September?"
Next week: I give out my awards for the most (and least!) stylish on the Oscars red carpet...
