Flashbulbs will pop in Soho from today (Sept 17) until September 22 when London Fashion Week takes over the iconic art deco Brewer Street Car Park for its SS16 event.
Style insiders will watch new collections by East London footwear designer Sophia Webster, who recently launched a Barbie inspired collection, Londoners Henry Holland and Amanda Wakley and brands such as Topshop Unique, strut down the catwalk, setting the trends we’ll be wearing next spring.
A trio of bright young things have been selected by a panel of editors, buyers and stylists, to showcase their work on the Fashion East catwalk. The leading support scheme established in Brick Lane by Lulu Kennedy returns for its 15th year with Central St Martins graduates Caitlin Price and Richard Malone and This is the Uniform, a London-based womenswear brand launched by Goldsmiths University graduate Jenna Young.
This is Uniform
The British Fashion Council has also organised plenty of events across London that the general public can enjoy.
Kick start the fashion extravaganza at Carnaby Style Night on September 17 from 5 to 9pm. Register for a free ticket on carnaby.co.uk and enjoy 20 per cent off in more than 100 flagship, concept and independent stores as well as restaurants, bars and cafés across the 13 streets of Carnaby for one night only. It will launch a series of special screenings, live streamed shows and exclusive footage events that will be held in the area during LFW.
In Golden Square you will be able to watch the official catwalk shows live on a big screen and see films from Vogue, Hunter and McQ Alexander McQueen while enjoying offers and pop-up events from local shops.
Not many of us can afford the clothes the models will be wearing but on September 19 Oxfam Charity Fashion Live will see stylist Emma Slade-Edmondson recreating designer outfits, just moment after they appear on the catwalk, using only donated items she finds at the Kingsland Road Oxfam branch. You can follow the action on Twiiter or Instagram @CharityFashionLive or join in at special Fashion Salvage events held at Oxfam branches in Covent Garden, Islington and Westbourne Grove.
If you want to find out more about the brains behind the beauty then The Condé Nast College of Fashion & Design in Greek Street will host a series of daily talks from September 18 to 22 with speakers such as Peter Pilotto and Zandra Rhodes. Tickets are free and available now.
Luis Vutton will be taking over 13 rooms at 180 Strand from September 21 to October 18 for free and immersive exhibition Series 3 which showcases the inspiration behind the designer’s autumn/winter collection. Exhibits will include a massive LED trunk, 3D-printed mannequins and an on-site atelier.
Exhibition Minnie: Style Icon, will be held at Black Members Club in Dean Street on September 19 to 20 and has been co-curated by model and photographer Georgia May Jagger. It brings together photographs, archive imagery, sketches, celebrity portraits and fashion spreads, from as far back as the 1930s to the present day. Tickets are free and available at blacksclub.com
Minnie Mouse in the Walt Disney animation Traffic Troubles March 1931. Image Disney
Gallery 8 in Duke Street will host a free exhibition by Gray MCA from September 17 to 22 which will showcase unseen and rediscovered works by fashion illustrator and modern painter, Irwin ‘Bud’ Crosthwait and curators Ashley and Connie Gray will be giving daily talks at 1.30pm to explore his legacy. To register to attend a talk, please email info@graymca.co.uk
In recognition of the move to Soho, SohoCreate, Picturehouse Central and Atelier Millinery will present a special screening of Ari Seth Cohen’s empowering documentary Advanced Style on September 21 at Picturehouse Central in Shaftesbury Avenue. It follows seven bombastic, independent, stylish women whose eclectic personal style and vital spirit have guided their approach to ageing. Tickets picturehouses.com/cinema/Picturehouse_Central/film/soho-create-present-advanced-style
You can also look out for the Gareth Pugh designed official tote bags, special fashion displays in stores such as Harrods, Liberty, Selfridges and Marks & Spencer, A special afternoon tea at The May Fair Hotel and Lavazza Vespas whizzing around offering free coffees.
Details: londonfashionweek.co.uk
Once the industry event is over it will be time for London Fashion Weekend which runs from September 24 to 27 at the prestigious Saatchi Gallery, Duke of York Square on the King’s Road with curated shopping galleries from over 150 international and British brands including the chance to buy three-shirts especially designed for the event by House of Holland; catwalk shows by London Fashion Week designers such as Issa, Peter Pilotto and Christopher Raeburn ; and talks from revered and respected industry leaders including Amanda Wakley OBE, David Downton, Anya Hindmarch MBE, Bella Freud and Henry Holland.
Details: londonfashionweekend.co.uk
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