London Fashion Week AW19

London Fashion Week Diary AW19 

Amidst the political chaos that Britain faces at the moment, one thing is for sure: this year’s London Fashion Week made me proud to not only be British, but proud to be a British young woman, studying and living in London. This season celebrated culture, curves, and colour. An infusion of international heritages with new up and coming designers gave the industry a fresh face. A wide spectrum of shows, from classic to confrontationally colourful, meant there was something different in every single look I saw, both on the catwalk and on the streets. Here’s my diary of exactly what I got up to this fashion week… 

Friday: 

Poster Girl AW19 Presentation: 

I started my fashion week by being transported back to a 1960s spa: think bright colours, retro shapes and girl power. The diversity of models in age and in race created a feminist microcosm of society where women were not belittled by beautifying their identity, but were empowered by it. The tranquility of this presentation created a serene celebration of everything it means to be a woman, and I left feeling very inspired.

C’est D AW19 Catwalk: 

Next I sat front row at C’est D which showcased a dreamy collection of pastel colours and geometric shapes designed for women with every body shape in mind. Flowing trousers and ruffled blouses subverted the monochromatic norms of Autumn Winter fashion, bringing something bright and fun, but at the same time chic, to the table. 

Saturday:

Shopyte AW19 Catwalk:

My Saturday kicked off with the ‘Silk Experience’ catwalk by Shopyte. Classic cuts and tailoring permeated this collection, as the models wore exceptionally well fitted, timeless pieces. Shopyte elevated office-wear from its mundane realms and made it look effortlessly seamless, presenting some wonderfully structured dresses and coats in neutral and muted hues. 

DB Berdan AW19 Catwalk 

Hours later the same venue was completely usurped from its previous traditional collection, as DB Berdan’s models and clothes exploded onto the catwalk confronting conventions and embracing liberal politics. This collection had everyone in the room smiling as it actively encouraged boldness - from the hairstyles down to the footwear. This was one of those catwalks that gave you FOMO if you were watching through the Instagram lens; it was a show that not only demanded attention, but commanded it. 

Sunday:

Oxford Fashion Studio Collective Catwalk AW19: 

Oxford Fashion Studio put on their collective catwalk for an eighth year in a row; set in a stunning outdoor space they presented a diverse range of designers that all challenged the norms of Autumn Winter fashion. Devonshire square’s greenery helped frame a show made up of vivd textiles and colours, and was a beautiful celebration of the artistry of fashion.

Leonie Mergen Catwalk AW19:

The Leonie Mergen catwalk was one of my favourites from the weekend: its ‘Black and Gold’ collection combined menswear and womenswear in such a classic way. Each piece was unpredictable yet was subtly brilliant in its use of details like collars, pockets or buttons which created breathtaking pieces. Rather than be bold in colour, this season Leonie Mergen focused on the quality and cuts of the material, each piece hung flawlessly off the model creating an elegant ambience as it moved down the catwalk.

Monday:

Richard Malone AW19 Catwalk:

The Richard Malone collection combined classic shapes with bright colours and prints. Think Poster Girl meets Shopyte it was classic but quirky - a perfect start to a Monday morning. 

Wesley Harriott AW19 Presentation: 

Wesley Harriott toyed with light and dark as his collection reinvented monochrome outfits by testing the limits of the shapes and styles of clothing. Escaping the conventions of what may be considered ‘feminine’ in fashion, Harriott creates boxy silhouettes that ooze power and status, which makes his collection one of the strongest seen this season.

Paul Costello AW19 Catwalk: 

Not only was the Paul Costello catwalk staged in a beautiful location, it was also beautiful down to every single minute detail: from the soundtrack to the ballgowns. The collection really alluded to what British fashion is all about, it had an element of class but also with surprise, every single piece was an external illustration of all the internal love and effort that had been poured into it. The military theme is something that repeatedly cropped up at fashion week, but Paul Costello carefully crafted this into something elegant, and deliciously British. 

Tuesday: 

PushBUTTON AW19 Catwalk: 

PushBUTTON ‘pushed’ the boundaries of fashion in their collection, adventurously mixing vibrant prints: polka dots, gingham, mesh, ruffles. The outcome of this was a fun and youthful collection that stood out among fashion week. The inclusion of headpieces was particularly resonant - one even containing pictures of the Queen - paying tribute to British heritage while also putting a quirky spin on the conventions we meet in every day life.

Nabil Nayal AW19 Presentation: 

Nabil Nayal’s live collection had a royal theme to it, as white ballgowns were clashed with red, darker prints - the conflict between the purity of white and the almost bloody red, symbolised to me, a battle between man and nature. The exploration of Queen Marie Antoinette’s legacy was artistically reflected in this collection as one drew connections with the delicacy of the white ballgowns with the darker ones representing the blood stained French revolution. 

Izzue Debut AW19 Catwalk: 

This catwalk had hearts racing and adrenaline pumping, the strobe lights and bass of the music added to the illusive nature of the clothes. The graffiti themed catwalk had an urban edge: the clothes military themed with a ready to wear accessibility. Monochrome grungy outfits with a pop of bright colour was a reoccurring theme here. 

On | Off AW19 Catwalk: The star-studded On|Off show was a perfect way to end my LFW! Filled with an eclectic crowd and equally eclectic variety in its collection, it contained everything you wouldn’t expect from an Autumn Winter collection, but made it work. A personal favourite of mine was the inclusion of neon which is much loved on the streets right now, giving a hopeful glance into the future that this trend prevails all year. The music had everyone dancing and brought with it a sense of unity within the  crowd, a very powerful tool of demonstrating just how significant the fashion industry is.