Sunday 18 September 2011

LFW: Day 2

The second day of LFW began with a not so early start but meant a push and shove through Covent Garden on a busy Saturday night for another trip to The Freemasons Hall but this time to get things ready before The Swedish School of Textiles showed their graduate BA/MA collections. This consisted of putting together the goody bags and greeting/escorting people as they piled in to view the catwalk show. One I spotted and recognized immediately from a recent television series Dirty Sexy Things, the cocky Jay Camilleri. He rather amusingly said to one of my colleagues, "I am a really famous model so could get front row?!" Anyway, aside from the pointless sighting, the show was rather avant-garde and far out, which is usually expected but this was foam boxed dresses, tights worn over shoes, cellophane footwear and odd tubed eye wear, are all things not to everyone's tastes and which is fair enough. These designers had an idea in their heads which they wanted to create and make their own on a catwalk and which is what they did. I must say, I very much enjoyed the show- it gave me goosebumps when each and every one of the designers stomped out onto the catwalk to Pet Shop Boys' You Were Always On My Mind. There was a constant clicking from the photographer's bench, as the music pieces suitably accompanying each collection were played, which I thought were great. Music, for me, tends to adds another element to a collection and only emphasises a designer's vision even more. Overall, it was another fun few hours and a result that we could sit down and watch the entire show.

Have you been to LFW? Did you manage to blag your way into a show? What do you make of the collections?










































Teresa Jaksetic                                                                      Louise Akerlund















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LFW: Teatum Jones S/S '12

After a long day at The Freemasons Hall, we made our way to the most beautiful building on John Adam Street opposite The Adelphi, known as the RSA where the Teatum Jones S/S '12 collection was to be presented. The carpeted room was where a handful of models whimsically walked about a white platform, showing off the clothes in rotation- standing on the edge then sitting down on ornate chairs. In the middle hung the most amazing crystal chandelier and surrounding, frames resembling a doorway and window frame. A television fitted in a huge white box was left to play on a loop, a video of a model wearing some of the clothing. It was the most beautiful place to host a fashion show of this calibre- soft pastel pink hues and fresh, clean white additions worked so well together, not distracting from the softness and femininity of the garments and instead working together to form a stunning show.

My job was to stand outside with a clipboard guiding to people to the destination, as it was quite a tricky one to find, hidden on a backstreet past the Savoy and behind the busy Strand, where planes flew about the sky, businessmen walked in and out of large townhouses, clutching suits and portfolios and status cars drove rather speedily up and down the rather quaint streets. I'm not certain, but it looked like I saw Ed Miliband's car drive past- blacked-out, personalised and chauffeur driven of course. After standing on the corner for an hour or so, we stood in the doorway of the exquisite room where guests were chatting and sipping cocktails in tiny glasses, handing press releases to those walking through. One in particular was Hilary Alexander, who for those of you who are not familiar is the Fashion Director of The Daily Telegraph and a personal favourite of mine- an absolute legend in her field and incredibly talented in her craft, who casually said "Hi there" as she breezed through wearing leopard-print Converse and her trademark glasses-resting-on-the-nose. I have spotted her before at LFW and both times has been absolutely lovely. 

It was then our chance to view the collection which was just gorgeous, like a particular black-clad handsomer man stood at the entrance to welcome each of the guests and a young waiter circling the room and chatting with those on the sidelines. There was something so romantic and peaceful about the collection, even with the excitement that was accumulationg in the large room that seemed like it would make for the most wonderful bedroom.

All in all, it was a great day- tiring but exciting and when I got home I fixed a vodka and lemon drink of my own as we couldn't make the most of the free alcohol whilst we were working. LFW is always such fun and a complete mixture of panic, interest and the thrilling appeal of fashion at it's best and London certainly takes some beating. 



"Sometimes it snows in April"








My favourite ensembles:











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