BETWEEN LAST season and this, it seemed as if the numbers at Somerset House (and beyond) at London Fashion Week had doubled. Where September’s fashion week was full, February’s was packed; people jostled for space and shows were frequently oversubscribed (including two of our own, John and Simone Rocha).
If the seasonal collections are the focus of the twice-yearly event – thrice, if you include soon-to-be-launched men’s fashion week in June – street style is the background against which this grand theatre is played out.
A bank of photographers greets attendees as they enter the venue, looking each person up and down before deciding who is worth photographing. Sure hits include anything by Isabel Marant, Celine and Acne and, of course, fashion celebrities such as stylist-slash-blogger Olivia Palermo and US Elle magazine’s Kate Lanphear.
“The bloggers are crazy about the shoes this year,” said one fashion insider. “More than any other year they don’t care about what you’re wearing, they just want to see your shoes.”
Back at the shows, Mulberry was a particular highlight, but more for the celebrities – Lana del Rey, Michelle Williams and Elizabeth Olsen – than the clothes. Basso and Brooke’s prints were sensational in Goldsmiths’ Hall; and Paul Smith’s final walk with his models, after which he clapped every one of them, was adorable.
Lows? Blisters, blisters and more blisters; Antoni Alison’s seemingly neverending parade of the same dress, in varying prints; my distinct lack of ticket for Burberry; and, of course, getting lost on the way to Topshop Unique and missing the show.
Talk of the town
Anna Wintour and Bill Nighy
The power friendship nobody saw coming. La Wintour, editor of American Vogue, was even spotted smiling at something Nighy said just before the lights went down for Mulberry’s A/W catwalk (left). By the time the lights came back up, though, it was frowns and sunglasses as usual.
Tabea WeyrauchGerman-born Irish native Tabea Weyrauch had the grand honour of opening London Fashion Week, walking in Antoni Alison's show, as well as making an appearance at Zoe Jordan, Basso and Brooke and Craig Lawrence.
Kanye Westat Mark Fast Would he attempt to outshine the young knitwear designer with an interlude? "Imma let you finish, but my collection was the best . . . " Luckily, no such interruption occurred.
BurberrySimulated rain and falling confetti at the finale meant Christopher Bailey's collection for Burberry Prorsum was the hot ticket. The clothes weren't bad, either.
Read Rosemary's fashion blog, Fash Mob, at irishtimes.com/blogs
