How to do London Fashion week in Style

London fashion week is a triumphant celebration of creativity, innovation, and it’s also a fun, bi-annual event, in which the global fashion glitterati descend upon one of the major fashion capitals of the world.

Having previously been the fashion editor of British Elle magazine and having worked in the fashion industry for over 15 years, I’ve attended my fair share of fashion weeks. But even so, I still feel a huge sense of excitement and anticipation whenever it’s fashion week season.

Why do we have Fashion Weeks?

The main reason we have Fashion Week is for designers and brands to display their latest collections. These new ranges will be sold the following season in stores and boutiques. The events are like mega exhibitions on a glamorous, grand scale, where the designers invite international fashion editors, bloggers, buyers, celebs and industry insiders to their shows, presentations, and parties.  

The buyers buy the clothing to sell in their stores and boutiques, the editors and bloggers go to the shows to help publicise the designers work and spread word of the latest trends from the catwalks. And the celebs are there to provide extra glamour and publicity to the events.

There are four major fashion weeks globally which are sometimes referred to as the big 4.

The fashioned cycle starts in power-house New York, moves to creative London, followed by commercial Milan, and finally ends in extravagant Paris. Different designers (normally from those capitals, but not always) show their collections in their chosen city.

To receive an invite to fashion week is considered very prestigious. And the elite few will get to indulge in some of the most spectacular fashion shows, mind blowing presentations, and decadent parties. Anyone who has ever read or watched The Devil Wears Prada, or The Hills will know how important fashion weeks are to the industry. They are the highlight of the fashion calendar. But this year the walls of exclusivity are about to be broken down. And about time too!

London’s week is taking place from 16th to 20th September. The main HQ is based around 180 The Strand in central London. It’s always a super buzzing area to be in, due to the crowds of fashionistas, bloggers, and photographers, flashing their flash bulbs and chasing celebs in between shows. Grab a seat in a local cafe and watch the fashion circus unfold.

How to get invited / involved?

Previously always the domain of the elite fashion crowd and celebs, fashion week has always been an invite only event.

But in a post-covid and inclusivity embracing world, London fashion Week has opened itself up to include the public and anybody who is interested in fashion. This year we will all be able to watch the shows in the comfort of our homes, from laptops or mobile devices. Many of the designers have decided to live stream their shows digitally across the globe.

As well as live streaming there are loads of ways for everyone to get involved. On the LFW website there’s a new section called City-Wide Celebrations where designers, high street shops and retailers are hosting shop events, talks, discounts, and fashion workshops which are open to the public.  

From high street stores like Cos, Whistles, Adidas, and All Saints offering discounts and hosting events, to River Island doing talks with celebrity stylists and lots more.

There are also on-schedule designers like Vivienne Westwood exhibiting show pieces in her store and Christopher Raeburn doing a ticketed Q&A session in his Hackney Studio. Which is super exciting as you get to meet him.

On the food and drinks side, restaurants like Aubaine, Ours and many more are introducing special fashionista menus and offers. If you fancy after-dinner, drinks or partying, head to the Rivoli Bar at the Ritz to enjoy a specially created LFW ‘catwalk cocktail’. For a wild night out, the infamous Windmill Soho will be hosting an LFW dinner and show. Or head to the little scarlet door for one of their raucous fashion house parties.

To see the full list of City-Wide Celebrations and how to book, head to City Wide Celebrations

Where to stay?

If you fancy staying in London during fashion week, please take note that hotels are much more expensive during this period, then they would normally be at another time of the year. But if that doesn’t deter you, then I would recommend either staying in one of the official London Fashion Week partner hotels, such as The Londoner in Leicester Square, who are offering special 10% discount on stays during that week.

The Four Seasons Hotel Park Lane is offering guests a special LFW package including lunch and bubbles at the hotel restaurant, before being whisked off on an exclusive shopping spree at Harvey Nichols and £200 off your shop.

I also love the Me Hotel which is directly opposite 180 Strand. They’ll be hosting various events and shows themselves. If you fancy yourself as a bit of an Anna Wintour, head to The Connaught, which is her favourite hotel in London.

You’ll find that if you’re in central London, there’s a real buzz in the city and plenty of glamourous events to get involved with.  

For more information on how to watch the digital presentations log onto www.londonfashionweek.com for the full list of designers and for more information on the city-wide celebrations head to https://londonfashionweek.co.uk/featured/city-wide-celebration.

So, don your most extra outfit and head to London! Have fun!

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