For some September means the end of summer, digging out your winter coats and a return to school or college. But for the fashionistas among us it means one thing – London Fashion Week.
If you’re anything like me you’ll spend the weeks after religiously reading post-catwalk reviews, tips and tweets from the front rows of a fashion week which is usually reserved for the fashion elite and those in the know. So you’ll understand my excitement when my best friend won VIP tickets to the launch of fashion weekend and invited me.
Set in the stunning Somerset House, London fashion weekend carries on the fun after Anna Wintour and Co. have gone, and opens it up to those seeking designer fixes at up to 70% off labels such as Jaeger London, Olivia Rubin and Levi’s.
After grabbing some free champagne at the door we head in to collect our goody bags and spot tables full of Juicy Couture bags, my friend squeals with excitement and goes crazy on the reduced accessories!
Next we head to an intimate talk by Wayne Hemmingway, fashion designer and owner of label Red or Dead, who sat and entertained us with tales of how he started out in the industry.
Each beautiful room in Somerset House acts as a mini boutique and as we head upstairs we hear rumours of Vivienne Westwood’s Red Label showcasing on the first floor and I buy a scarf from Sienna Miller’s Twenty8Twelve range for £20.
Moving into the vintage area; fur coats, 1960’s patterned clothes and one off accessories surround me and I spot gorgeous dresses from Lucy in Disguise, Lilly Allen’s boutique.
The VIP catwalk hosted by Britain and Ireland’s Next Top Model presenter Grace Woodward started at 8pm so we took a break from shopping to watch key trends for Autumn/Winter 2011 from Osman and Jaeger. Read more about the show here.
Heading out with our feet aching and bags weighing us down I spot Amber from Made in Chelsea rearranging rings on her Flash Trash stall. We walk out of Somerset House, missing the bargains already.
Guess we will just have to come back in February.
