London Fashion Week AW11

Throughout the day twitter was alive with tweets from fashionistas, bloggers, magazine editors and photographers with gossip from backstage, the highlights of designers collections and the lowlights from the shows. London knows how to do fashion. Supermodel Lily Donaldson talked to Stylist magazine prior to LFW starting and was asked “What do you think is unique to LFW?”,  Lily answered, “We’re at the forefront of everything, We’re pioneers documenting all the major eras through out catwalk collections and I’m proud to be part of it.”

Day 1- LGN Events A La Mode Showcase

Greeted with a glass of champagne at the door to the buzzing suite at the Charing Cross Hotel, the venue looked different to last year as gone was the straight T-shaped runway for a more commonly used square pathway. This gives the audience more opportunity to see the collection, for longer, with more appreciation and it definitely worked. Sat Front Row at this event it was fabulous to chat to fellow fashion press about how their day had gone so far and which designers they were falling in love with.

Cristina Nitopi

Annah Stretton

First in the showcase was New Zealand designer Annah Stretton. Having seen her collections shown at New Zealand Fashion Week, we were keen to see how her style would work in the London arena. We caught up with Annah, a virgin attendee at LFW, prior to the showcase to understand the inspiration behind her collection specifically for London Fashion Week, “War of the Roses”.

Q: What drew you to showcasing at LFW?
A:  We have such strong reaction to our  clothing from the UK visitor in NZ, that I see it simply as a natural progression for the collection to be introduced into this market. We have shown at Australian fashion week for 7 years , a market that is similar to our own, so feel well prepared to take on the UK market.

Q: What are your key trends for A/W 11?
A: As always we will be working with colour and a huge variety of texture. The collection, title “War of the Roses’, has its themes tied up in the clash of the two  English houses. Many of the frocks are totally reversible , the jackets take on a  shrunken Eton school boy look. The knitwear, is embellished and beautiful.

Annah Stretton

Q: Your collections are always feminine with a quirky edge, how do you maintain that season after season?
A:  We simply don’t follow trends, the collections are all based around a back story, that we embrace and interpret each season. They will always have very feminine origins and enables us to continue the drama we have become so loved for in our clothes.

Q: What is the key piece a woman should invest in this season?
A:  An Annah Stretton Chameleon frock , one size fits all , fully reversible , machine washable , and can  be worn 10 different ways!

Annah Stretton’s collection was simply divine. Layering of tulle, chiffon and retro cotton fabrics. Using bold colours, pleating and sumptuous fabrics. The colours all worked well together, the softness of the collection came through as well as having bold origins with clashing concepts. The ballerina trend we saw in S/S was still prevalent here with some gorgeous skirts and layered dresses. Throughout the collection the War of the Roses trend was maintained with a giant folded material rose either on the back of a jacket, in the hair, or round a waist tie. Exquisite, glorious and divine. It felt very English and very vibrant in a delicate way.

Annah Stretton

Berit New York

Berit New York was back again at the A La Mode showcase. Having seen her work at the S/S 11 event we were keen to see what was next from this budding designer. We were not disappointed! As a member of the Italian press Umberto di Zenzo commented “its a French musketeer style and its divine”. The collection hosted a lot of deep reds, greys and purples. Both women and menswear. Our favourite was the little red riding hood style cloak that just oozed glamour in a dark and mysterious way. The use of rich materials such as velvet and suede along with thigh high leather boots gave a sense of grandeur of medieval days with some feminine silver and white flower shoulder embellishment to give a touch of feminine elegance.

Berit New York

Rajadano

Not often seen on the catwalk in their own collection, it was great to see accessories being showcased at this event. The models for Rajadano wore simple black dresses with luxurious velvet wraps, tailed with amazing feathers to present to us a collection of leather clutches from this up and coming designer. The gorgeous leather clutches, of size suitable for an iPad, the collection was an array of arabian nights colours, tangerine tribe we saw in S/S, teal and aqua, ravishing purple and subtle pink. All had studded detailing of the designers logo and they were delicate but delightful. A refreshing burst of colour for A/W11.

Rajadano

UsTrendy presents RumpleMunkeh

It’s always great to see a key trend be carried through a designers collection. With RumpleMunkeh the choice was peacock feathers. Opening the presentation was a very simple black halter-neck jumpsuit with luxurious peacock feathers acting as a bustier to give depth and colour. Following on from this a teal pleated dress with peacock feather detailing, then a gorgeous purple jersey dress with a peacock print present. This continued throughout the collection in a manner of forms blending jersey, leather, purples, teals and greys together to give an earthy controlled feel to a fabulous range of outfits.

UsTrendy presents RumpleMunkeh

Majinjoo

Often a catwalk show has the latest great dance tracks or firm favourites for models to hit the runway to. It was a refreshing change to have simple, classical music to present this Majinjoo collection to, it gave a dreamy, movie theme background to a delightful and delicate collection. The collection from Majinjoo was an amazing blend of chunky knitwear, striped jersey dresses and a hit of vibrant sparkly baby pink glitter. This collection has the wow factor. It was feminine but with depth, casual with a serious undertone. The photography does the collection justice, need we say more, we were blown away.

Majinjoo

Rehmali

The return of the S/S11 Palazzo pant was here with Rehmali’s collection. Feminine, chic outfits using luxurious shot silks, satins and carefully crafted cottons. The collection to us was more reminiscent of a Resort collection than A/W but it made us savour the summer before it has arrived. We love the wide-legged palazzo pant jumpsuits in dove grey, the amazing tropical maxi halter-dress that wouldn’t be out of place on a Caribbean island. The collection felt undeniably feminine, sophisticated and sensual and was probably our favourite of the night.

Rehmali

Cristina Nitopi

Cristina Nitpoi’s collection, the last of the night was a mixture of textures and colours. Each outfit was a mixture of materials, textures, colours and finishes. A harlequin style of velvet animal prints, block colours, laces mixed with jersey, finished off with a metal loop chain for added contrast. For us and the press around us on the Front Row it was decided that some outfits worked and some didn’t. But then came the florals, sumptuous colours of hot pink, mixed with delicate and interesting floral prints. We felt that the second act of the collection was more successful, more what LFW is about and the clever mix of styles and textures won us over in the end.

Cristina Nitopi

Paul Costelloe AW11 Catwalk: 18th February 2011 BFC Show Space, London

Video courtesy of Rightster

Day 2 at LGN Events A La Mode showcase to come as well as coverage from Betty Jackson