LFW Wrap Up
LFW came and went in a blur of brilliance and downers. This being my first official time at LFW going to shows everyday, doing the whole fashion week thang, it confirmed a few things to me.
- If I was in love with LFW before, I'm even more in love with it having seen the clothes in person and seeing them in movement and coming to life. LFW is not big and shiny, it's not particular glitzy, especially the off-schedule parts. But that's what I love about it. I get excited by new talent or designers that are on the rise. Even if people outside of London think it's no big deal, seeing any designer's work on the catwalk is a big deal to me. If people like GIles and Christopher Kane move onto New York or Paris, I won't be boo-hoo-ing about the big names moving away, but I'll enthusiastically anticipate the new generation of designers.
- As I was feeling very outsidery during the whole of fashion week, one person showed me that it was ok to feel that way. I won't reveal her name but she's most certainly a fashion SOMEBODY with BIG connections and a wealth of fashion experience. It was something like a movie when this lady swooped in midway during a show and plonked right next to me, eccentric with her 20 yr old John Rocha velvet dress and beautiful patchwork jacket. After the show, as we sat waiting for the next one, still something like a movie scene, she temporarily took me under her wing and taught me that big fashion sunglasses were a necessity at shows, how to snake your way through to front row. She shared her experiences with various designers, her outlook on fashion. I expressed to her that I felt like I didn't fit into the whole fashion 'scene' because I love fashion for fashion without all that other fake bullcrap that comes with it, which is ever-present when dealing with snotty PR's and meeting people who don't really want to say hello. This lady told me that she felt the same way and there's nothing wrong with that. She can view fashion as if sitting above all the fakery, yet at the same time, sitting amongst those fashion 'devils.' I strive to do the same.
- After that long anecdote, the confirmation is that I'm very happy working in an unrelated fashion field. I'm not cut out for the social climbing side of fashion and I'm fine with that.
- London females take on trends faster than a bullet train. I overheard girls talking about dress shapes and the declaration that rang out was 'Wrap dresses are just so Notting Hill yummy mummy. It's all about short babydolls and tent dresses.' Not even a design classic is sacred in this trend train that is London.
- Fashion is really really NOT punctual. From now on, I'm just going to ignore whatever time it says on the schedule.
Oh and one last random observation. When I heard model Lily Cole asking a PR when a show was going to start (it was 2 hours late), I noticed she had a 'HBS' voice. By 'HBS' I mean she has a North London school voice. Sort of posh, not quite glass cut posh but very refined and polite sounding. I went to Henrietta Barnett School in North London and she went to Latymer, also in North London. Somehow whenever I hear anyone with that accent, I start referring to them as 'so HBS'. So yeah.... Lily Cole is very 'HBS'. By the by, she is absolutely breathtaking in person. Ok, random observation over.
To crudely summarise LFW.
Lots of black footless tights and lots of waiting around.
Sweet! you met lily cole? my favourite model :)
Posted by: D | 23 September 2006 at 00:11
Hi! Sounds like you had an awesome time at LFW, Im so jealous! I like the 2 photos that you took to sum it up, good job!
xoxo
Posted by: Steph | 23 September 2006 at 00:11
Oh please tell us who this 'fashion somebody' is! I'm really interested after reading that. Or give us some more clues at least!
Posted by: Jess | 23 September 2006 at 01:22
What?! The fact that fashion people still wear black footless tights is mystifying to me.
Posted by: Claire | 23 September 2006 at 04:19
That's what I love about you Susie- you're extremely humble and friendly! I go to a certain fashion school in NY and people can be so pretentious- I understand how you feel.
Posted by: Sam | 23 September 2006 at 05:05
Last line sums it up :)
http://fashionista-til-i-die.blogspot.com/
Posted by: Sparkles | 23 September 2006 at 08:38
Ohh nice time you have..
PLEASE tell us the clue of that SOMEBODY you talked to. It made me curious ! :)
Posted by: | 23 September 2006 at 15:00
who is it?!
Posted by: sarah | 23 September 2006 at 15:56
Good job then..
aaron -http://dgart.phpnet.us
Posted by: aaron | 23 September 2006 at 20:28
just wondering.. why arent you working in a fashion related field? it sounds like your passionate enough about it. also if you dont mind me asking, which field are you currently working in?
Posted by: kashka | 24 September 2006 at 00:32
Kashka: I'm afraid I'm too naive for the industry..... I love fashion but I don't like some of the crap that comes with the industry.
I work in digital advertising (I suppose media has some of the same crappy elements as fashion but at least I know how to handle myself!)
The person who came by and rescued me is a very well known stylist who's related to a certain Westwood..... that's it....
Posted by: susie_bubble | 24 September 2006 at 17:51
aww, I thought it might have been hilary alexander because she seems like exactly the type of person to do that sort of thing!
Posted by: meg | 25 September 2006 at 09:18
Hilary Alexander? I had a brief encounter with her at NY Fashion Week and I wouldn't say she sounds like that at all. Very brusque in person I'm afraid to say.
Posted by: Stylebites | 29 September 2006 at 11:53