my first london fashion week experience

ON THE RIGHT: TIGER from FASHION RUSHH & HELENA from BELL'S FASHION

FASHION SCOUT 'ONES TO WATCH'

 

BERNARD CHANDRAN; THE BEST SHOW OF THE DAY

 

GOING BEHIND THE SCENES AT FREEMASONS HALL

TIGER, FRANKIE & I

DELISH FOOD AT THE NEW LOOK 'REFUEL ROOM'

SOME OF THE PIECES FROM HELEN LAWRENCE'S COLLECTION

Yesterday marked my first foray into the exhilarating whirlwind that is London Fashion Week, and boy was it a day to remember! As the crowds poured in and the rain poured down (making those notorious cobbles even more treacherous, as I soon discovered), the day promised to be fabulous from start to finish. Although the shows were of course the main event, there was so much more to the day than simply finding out what trends will be big next season. A beautiful room in the Waldorf Hilton had been taken over by New Look as a 'Refuel Room' for bloggers (equipped with photo booth, makeup artists, a smoothie bar, delicious food and copious amounts of champagne, all of which I took full advantage of) and just next door Handpicked Media had also set up a chill-out lounge, both of which gave a lovely bit of respite from the rain. Even strolling around Somerset House, umbrella a kimbo, was a treat! I started with the obligatory round of celeb spotting, before trying my hand at snapping some street-style photos; I've never seen so many well-dressed people in one place in my entire life!

The first show I attended was the Fashion Scout 'Ones to Watch'; I loved Hannah Williams' collection - a mixture of texture, glossy PU, raw edges and boxy silhouettes in muted shades - but it was Helen Lawrence that really stood out among the 3 designers in the show (the other being Renli Su). Her cable knit jumpers with graffiti-like prints and frayed edges (pictured above) are something that I can easily see the high-street rushing to replicate, and the same goes for the clear PU skirts. Unfortunately it was near enough impossible to get decent photos of the catwalk with my point-and-shoot due to all the lights, but I'm sure a quick Google search will get you better photos of the collections in question! I also really enjoyed Merit Award winner Yulia Kondranina's collection; again, photos were difficult, but the intricate, geometric crochet and sheer panelling got me from the word go, and are definitely trends I'll be looking out for when SS14 rolls around. Despite the obvious talent of all the aforementioned designers, the show of the day for me (and the one that had me and my LFW partner in crime, Tiger, gushing with praise) was Bernard Chandran. The entire collection appealed to my inner magpie, with opulent jewel shades, holographic metallics and angular cut-outs dominating, along with the most beautiful glittery gladiator sandals that I've ever set eyes on. There was one particular metallic, tailored purple jumpsuit that really caught my eye; if anyone can hook me up with either that or the little green shift dress for my prom next year, please feel free to drop me an email..

An inspiring day of shows, free food and drink, goodie bags brimming with amazing products, mingling with bloggers, being photographed and interviewed, going backstage at shows, regular near-misses in the falling-flat-on-my-face department and even a fleeting moment of fame on ITV news last night, was brought to a lovely close by a Nando's in Covent Garden with the London's Closet girls and Tiger. I wish I could have stayed for some after parties and gone again today for round two (I had invites to Ashish & Helen van Rees and I'm so gutted I missed out!) but unfortunately work beckoned. I may well head back another day this week as there are a few more shows that I'd love to see (watch this space), but for now I'm perfectly content with having been able to experience the mighty London Fashion Week first hand even if just for a day; it made me realise that fashion is an industry that I need to be a part of, and has inspired me to work even harder at my blog from here on in! 

Make sure you check out my Instagram (@amymacee) for more photos and videos from Day 1, and read tomorrow's post to see full details of my LFW outfit!

xoxo

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