Show Business
I was recently asked to answer some questions about when I first knew I wanted to work in the fashion industry, it was a lovely walk down memory lane just as London Fashion Week was kicking off. From the moment I heard London Fashion Week existed I was hooked on the idea of being a part of it. From afar the slew of parties, runway shows and photo opportunities may make the whole shebang appear superficial, but remember these things are merely the icing on the cake to an industry worth £26 billion in revenue and 800,00 jobs in 2024.
Thankfully the leaders of our fashion industry understand the human cost, environmental need and cultural wish for change, for a slower, more considered way of shopping the enjoying fashion, eBay and Oxfam have shows on schedule, even the hallowed pages of fashion bible Vogue includes preloved finds while London was the first of the major fashion weeks to ban fur from it shows.
Even my love of all things slow fashion doesn’t compromise my love for the fashion industry in this country, the creativity and innovation of the brands make it world class, and while many of the price point sit outside of what most of us deem affordable. If you have a spare few minutes to flick through some of the imagery, you will be wowed by their craftsmanship, be influenced by Emilia Wickstead to wear sugar pink or head to toe polka dots as seen at Edeline Lee, while Roksanda Ilincic made fringing her showpiece, the eagle eyed among you may have noticed designer Roksanda, whose dresses have been worn by Catherine, Princess of Wales, has done a collaboration with George at Asda to celebrate 40 years of London Fashion Week, if you have ever wanted to get your hands on her designs at a fraction of her main collection price, this is your chance.
The clothes on the catwalk at fashion week aren’t available until early next year, so its the street style outfits you can take immediate inspiration from, London always has the most eclectic street style, so it wasn’t about spotting trends unless it was The barn jacket, a casual boxy workwear style with contrasting collar, purists wore the Carharrt beige version, getting extra style points if it was vintage. The front row at this weeks Paris shows is rather more uptown, think Sylvie rather than Emily in Paris, leather skirts, (khaki if you want to be on trend) voluminous silk blouses with sexy necklines and oversized trench coats, Tres chic.
The French say Vive la mode, and I couldn’t put it better myself.
