Everyone is gearing up for this month’s London Fashion Week. The designers are making the finishing touches to their collection, the exhibitors are making sure they have enough marketing material and business cards to hand out, the buyers are finalising their ‘who to see’ plan and the bloggers are scheduling their weeks in the run up to, through and past fashion week.

With so much to cover your first port of call must be exploring the designer exhibitions at Somerset House and the ON|OFF Section at Victoria House. Back in September, we covered BodyAmr, Kron by KronKron, Beekay, Beautiful Soul, Rachael Cassar, Rocio Bags and a few others from the exhibitions and this season we’re planning on covering a lot more!

19TH – 23RD FEB EMERGING DESIGNERS EXHIBITIONS FROM SOMERSET HOUSE ∨

AND ON|OFF 19TH – 22ND FEB∨

You can also check out all the things to do in between shows with the London Fashion Week City Guide A/W 10. In fact, LFW along with Red Maps have provided us with maps that are available on site, you can also open a pdf and print it out, just visit the map page on the LFW site.

We have a couple of our favourite designers appearing on the catwalks and throughout the week that we’re planning on covering. Not mentioning any names now, but we promise all will be unveiled soon! In the meantime, take a look at your favourite designers and what they’re up to during LFW.

NEWGEN THROUGHOUT LFW ∨

While you’re there, check out the winners from NEWGEN, (New Generation, which the British Fashion Council created in 1993) which is the world’s first scheme to support emerging designer talent and it continues to showcase and promote emerging talent today. As ever, Topshop is quick in the game when it comes to any type of endorsement and it’s sponsoring NEWGEN having been supporters since 2001. Winners for A/W 10 include Mary Katrantzou, Mark Fast, Holly Fulton, Maria Francesca Pepe and many more.

Catwalk designers receive £5000 – £10,000 towards their show costs, sponsored Exhibition space, usage of the BFC Catwalk tent and mentoring. If you’re an emerging designer, you can apply to this by visiting the BFC NEWGEN site and filling out an application form. There are a number of criteria you have to meet before you apply so make sure you’re covered.

Of course, we have to cater for all you guys out there who are tired of all the beautiful women dominating the fashion space, and more interested in seeing the new menswear collection, then come to Menswear day on the 24th Feb…we’ll be there!

MENSWEAR DAY 24TH FEB ∨

Finally…there’s London Fashion Weekend starting on 25th – 28th February ∨

Although this may be a trade-only event, it won’t stop you having a look at the A/W 10 collections. And if you’re a buyer, enjoy up to 75% of RRP from over 100 designers. Designers are confirming every day so make sure you see the full designer list on the London Fashion Weekend site. You can also get the extensive list of all the events during London Fashion Week from their website.

London Fashion Week www.londonfashionweek.co.uk

London Fashion Weekend www.londonfashionweekend.co.uk

NEWGEN www.britishfashioncouncil.co.uk

They are fantastic aren’t they?

This amazing label is quickly picking up recognition in the world of international handbag design and fashion, despite it only being around since May 2006. Rocio’s handbags and clutches are handmade from harvested Acacia wood meaning that any eco-friendly fashionista should not be without one. And with animal prints and block colours being on the forefront of our trend list, I already know what’s on my wish list.

To check out the rest of Rocio’s colourful collection, you can visit the Rocio website and if you fancy it – Rocio sell online so you can go to the online boutique section of the site to buy. Prices are around the £300 so what are you waiting for?