Fashion fever has pretty much died down…but not so fast, February is only around the corner. Designers, event managers and many other high profile jobs personnel are probably undergoing a serious amount of stress to bag the best venues, brainstorm the craziest concepts, and start up this whole whirlwind of a period once again.
This year, I attended my first London Fashion Week Festival event. No, it wasn’t formally ‘fashion week’ as London’s time was up and off it was to Milan, but Yes, it was immersive, busy, eclectic, and most of all very fun. Well known companies like Nivea were hosting competitions and events at their stalls, whilst many independent designers were just trying to make themselves heard. This event made clear that the fashion community has to come together more often to provide independent brands the platform they call for.
Each floor had a whole host of designers. Powerhouse labels like Gucci and YSL had one off discounts for the event. Some stalls almost had a ‘Turkish bazar’ atmosphere as people crowded around displayed items like they were treasures- in their entirety, they were.
Like any given moment, politics made its scene in fashion. Katharine Hamnett, an ethically and sustainably produced brand, brought this to the surface. Lashing out against our agonising situation of Brexit, her bold typography makes her simple design all the more serious and upfront.
The headline event of the day was going to watch a catwalk show. Sat front row for Georgia Hardinge, I was anxious yet excited to witness my first show.
Georgia Hardinge is a thriving London based designer whose debut at London Fashion Week S/S 2010 was only a taster of the success that was to follow. Her renowned pieces have been worn by the likes of Lady Gaga, Beyoncé, Alicia Keys and more. The designer has also made her mark through collaborations including Victoria’s Secret and River Island in which she designed a 14 piece collection. Hardinge’s dominant influences come from her passion for architectural shapes and sculptures. This is reflected in her designs through minimalist pleating techniques, combined with various fabrics to construct her signature unique and elegant sculptural pieces.
One of the most important things I was looking out for during the show was model diversity. This is becoming more widespread today, and Georgia Hardinge was certainly not at fault. The overall model aesthetic was youthful with minimal make up, diverting the focus to the intricately pleated, elegant garments that walked the show. Boldly feminine cuts, and designs entwined with a mix of delicate and luxurious fabrics made this collection all the more successful. Along side, the not-so-shy use of colour evoked a sense of strength in the woman who wears Georgia Hardinge.
My outfit details:
Mesh top- Zara
Black bandeau- PLT
Bag-Mums
Belt- Also mums
Jeans- Weekday