Emerging Fervour

Day 2 started with Elliott J. Frieze and what a start! This seasons silhouettes draws inspiration from the 1970′s, while embroidery, and textiles pay homage to this favourite childhood author, Roald Dahl and illustrator Quentin Blake.

The colour palette was a caffeine mixtures, such as Latte, Mochas and Espresso and of course black – stunning! Draped jersey, tailored corduroy and Labswool cocktail dresses, one outfit nicer than the other.

I love it the elegance of it and can see myself and many of my girlfriends or boyfriends as such in this collection.

As every year this is the one catwalk which we love the most as you get to watch 4 catwalks in one hit but it’s also the 4 brightest new emerging stars in the fashion world.

Anja Mlakar

Her debut ‘Blue Tube’ collection echoes elements of the three dimensional and sensual silhouettes; while clean lines and a muted colour palette signify her venture into a new breed of elegance.

Kirsty Ward

Central Saint Martins’ Kirsty Ward graduated in 2008 with distinction and went straight on to design for Alberta Ferretti in Italy. She launched her label with a S/S11 debut at Vauxhall Fashion Scout during LFW. Her trademark use of metal jewellery combines to create structured silhouettes and classical pieces.

Sara Bro-Jorgensen

Let us show you!! Evelyn Kutschera was lucky enough to get to hang out backstage and shoot the run up to the Jasper Garvida catwalk and as always managed to take the most amazing shots:

The lovely Jasper

More on Flickr

We do love a bit of luxury (even if we can’t quite afford it…) so Jasper Garvida, luxury womens’ wear fashion designer, is right up our street and his collection is one of the favourites I’ve seen – although I am known to love sleek, classical, wearable styles.

Inspired by the novel ‘Soie’ by Alessandro Baricco – a romantic tale of a European man who becomes enchanted by the east – the collection focuses on contrasts, and the beauty that can be formed when two different worlds intertwine. With elements of 19th century design combined with an oriental silhouette, the collection incorporates strong streamlined tailoring and soft draping with demure skirt lengths that have been given a sexy edge in the form of daring slits and peek-a-boo cut-outs to reveal flashes sensuality.

The slick tailoring, armour-like-hand-embellishment and textured pieces are combined with beautiful, softly draped silk jersey and, lace pieces that depict the journey of two opposite worlds meeting, to create balance, harmony, grace and elegance – all of which serves to add an intriguing romantic undertone to the collection.

We started Day 1 of London Fashion Week at On/Off where Ada Zanditon was showing her A/W 2011/12 collection ‘THE CRYOFLUX’.

Zanditon has been going from strength to strength and the venue was packed as her film was shown and you could feel the buzz about her new collection.

This season she’s taken inspiration from the extreme climate of Antarctica, the theme can be discovered in the engineered print of the Antarctic; the colour palette of navy, marine, flame and dark flame; the fluidity and structural elements of the fabrics as well as the exaggerated and asymmetrical lines of the garments.

The collection features a range of dresses, from tailored influences to fluid looser asymmetric shift dresses. True to form, Zanditon has included a selection of sensational showpiece dresses, inspired by the captivating natural formations of the Antarctic broken, frozen waterfalls.

The Jewellery, which once again sees Zanditon collaborating with Luca Romanyi, features printed tile, silver chain, black vegetable-tanned leather and metal in a range of geometric shapes. One word: WICKED!

Lebanon is known for a lot of things, one being the amazing designers coming out of here. Being at ESMOD, I get to see a lot of emerging talent from third year students, and I feel really lucky to be here, living the dream!

One designer that really stands out for me from Lebanon, who didn’t actually attend fashion school, but learnt everything he knows from a family tailoring business is Abed Mahfouz. Born and raised in Lebanon, Mahfouz creates Haute Couture, Ready to Wear and Bridal – he actually created my sister-in-law’s wedding dress back in 2000 when he was just starting out – unfortunately I don’t have any pictures of the day, only a video right now – but I will dig something out and post it soon.

Today, his pieces are pricey investments, check out some of my favourites from is AW10-11 collection:

Ready to Wear

Haute Couture

Bridal

www.abedmahfouz.com

I loved William Ames’s SS11 collection shown during NYFW. I’ve been an avid follower of his collections for a couple of years now, and with most things – they get better with age. Focusing on the 90′s minimalism for a while – his peak was reached when showing his latest collection in New York. Check out some images taken from Style.com.

The obvious addition this season was a palette of bright colours coupled with textured materials (raw silk, linen and silk mesh), with a sandy taupe playing the role of the primary shade. Skirts, both long and and short and high on the waist were another dominant feature in this collection.

In love with this collection and I’m already getting excited to see his next collection.

www.matthewames.com

It’s time for a round up of our fabulous week at London Fashion Week, so many catwalks, presentations, and many amazing collections!! Evelyn and Rob have done an amazing job to capture these moments and there were too many to show on this blog, but fear not, here they all are. An extra big thank you to Evelyn who has run around from venue to venue and made sure we can show you an amazing selection of emerging designers. Click on the image to see the full gallery.

Bunmi Koko

Jena. Theo

Ones to Watch: Lilee, Charlotte Taylor,  A.Hallucination, Georgia Hardinge

Jacob Kimmie

BodyAmr

Lako Bukia

Anya Wilkison

One T-Shirt Presentation

Masha Ma

Romeo Pires

The Swedish School of Textiles Graduate Show

Hermione De Paula

Krystof Strozyna

Romina Karamenea

D.Gank

Orschel Read

Tim Soar

FAD Backstage

At this year’s London Fashion Week acclaimed Swedish School of Fashion & Textiles made history, by showing abroad for the first time ever. Eleven of this year’s BA graduates were given the opportunity to present their collections in front of an eagerly awaiting mob of UK and International Press and Buyers. It’s great to see foreign schools coming to London and  taking full advantage of the city’s unbeatable creative attitude and appreciation. This stuff really gets me excited, I love over the top, costume-like, dramatic fashion!! Good luck to the designers.

Here’s a peek at a selection of our favourite collections

Sara Anderson

Stina Randestad

Ellinor Nilsen

Charlotta Mattsson

Emilie Johansson

Johanna Milvert

Elin Klevmar

Jennie Siljedahl

Elin Sundling

David Soderlun

Helena Quist

Korean based fashion label D.GNAK by KANG.D was my second menswear show. This collection targets the hectic and stressed lives of a workaholic male. Inspiration was drawn from a slightly disheveled and overworked man. Small details like an untucked shirt, ties threaded through a lapel and drawstrings around the ankles give a more casual take on the classic workwear.

Bright lime green ties stood out among the neutral coloured shirts and suits and simple slip on shoes complemented the workaholic theme of the collection.

In a final play with the workaholic theme, all the models were in matching pajamas and bare feet for the final walk. The boys were ready to relax after a long day at work!

Photo Credits: Lucas Seidenfaden of The Fashion Scout and the Londonist