When I went to London Fashion Week (LFW) this year with House of iKons I was so surprised at everything else happening in the Capital and realised that you do not need to be invited to shows to enjoy LFW. Today I thought I would share just some of the things that you could do during Fashion Week that are both fun and not show related, so that maybe when the next Fashion Week rolls around you can go and do more.
The Street Style
Now London is known for it’s amazing street style but it is amplified during LFW. I love street style watching anyway but this really was on another level. I loved walking around Mayfair and Soho and seeing what everyone is wearing. It really is one of the times of the year where some people go all out and I just love feeling inspired. There are some people whose outfits do resemble a form of art and others whose I just do not understand. But I think that is part of fashion – for each to their own and to inspire their own ensembles. And here is a great listing by The Telegraph of 100 stylish London Fashion Week spots to visit.
Watch the shows live on Carnaby Street
There was a large screen set up in the center of the fashionable Carnaby Street and they were live streaming highlights from the catwalk shows. I managed to capture some of the Simon Roche show which was great. I think that this was such a fantastic idea. There are so many people who have such an interest in the main shows of the season but may not be able to get tickets to the coveted shows. This is a fun other option and there certainly was a good atmosphere when I was there.
Fun, open to the public events
Carnaby Street was also the host to many workshops, beauty treatments and live demos. The Carnaby Pampervan on Ganton Street hosted loads of cool workshops and activities every day. Here are some that were on offer:
- The Braid Bar – Hair braiding
- Illamasqua – ‘Express Yourself’ make-up masterclass for eyes or lips
- Colour Riot Nails – Nail art
- Hand & Lock – Embroidery and monogramming
- Sonya Parra & Sophie – Fashion illustrations
- Barbour – Styling session with The Edited blogger Erica Davies
When I was there I also popped into Grazia and their Live From London issue live from Carnaby. It was also about what gos into a fashion magazine behind the scenes. You can read more here.
Visit London Design Festival
This is a lesser known and I think slightly over looked festival that celebrates all things design – not just clothes. Though of course clothes come into it – and the Undressed Exhibit which I have spoken about before here is on the agenda. There are SO many exhibitions on throughout the festival and you can read more about them here. There are some stunning works of architecture and creative product design on display and I would certainly recommend checking this out next September (Running from September 16-24 2017).
Limited Run Unusual Exhibitions
It is worth keeping an eye on what is happening exhibit wise in London. For example over the LFW weekend well known model Georgia May Jagger is holding an exhibit showing the fashion of Minnie Mouse! She is going to trace how Minnie Mouse has influenced fashion through the last century. This was free and at Blacks in Soho.
There are so much more than just this one – many artists will decide to exhibit during this time. There is a large fashion footfall on the Capital during this week so they may get more coverage. It is also worth checking out the window displays for LFW – simply amazing.
Go to London Fashion Weekend
If you can’t get to the shows and really want to feel involved in LFW then the London Fashion Weekend is the next best thing. I sadly could not go this year but it’s on my list for February 2017. As part of the weekend there are fashion shows to attend, talks by industry insiders and some great shopping options as well. Some of the talks in September 2016 included Sophia Webster (OMG!), Sarah Shotton, Patrick Grant and Daisy Lowe. To read all about it check out their website here.
Treat Yourself
If you are feeling a little down that you are not at the shows – then why not treat yourself! The W London in Leicester Square transformed into a style hub. They are pulled togeather a team of ‘Finishing Touches’ therapists who offered a range of quick beauty and fashion fixes. They also help fashion and fitness talks. More information on this here.
In all honestly there is SO much buzz around the city during Fashion Week and it is fun to immerse yourself in it. I am already looking forward to February Fashion Week! Do you think that you would go to London Fashion Week minus the Shows?
