A newbies guide to London Fashion Week

February and September are more than just Valentine’s Day and back to school season. They’re the months where international fashion descends on New York, London, Milan and Paris for fashion week. If you’re a newbie like I was a couple of seasons ago, it’s like you’re a baby walking into your first day at high school. A whirlwind adventure.

And with the next fashion week coming to London in a matter of days, what better timing than to publish my newbies guide to London Fashion Week (I can’t promise you the following content will be valuable but they’re the product of my experiences)

 

• Apply well in advance for the official accreditation by the British Fashion Council (BFC). Whatever your profession whether it be Journo, Stylist, Blogger/ Digital Influencer or Designer. The process is pretty easy but the competition is hella tough. Sign up to the BFC for updates on when accreditation goes live.
• I don’t mean to sound like your mum but drink water and eat your greens. Fashion week is draining so it’s important to keep yourself hydrated yourself whilst on foot, as well as eat the right stuff to maintain your energy. No matter how busy your schedule is, with the amount of instagrammable cafes and restaurants in London, there’s no reason not to.
• Street style is your best friend during LFW. The number of images of random people in cool clothes I have on my phone for fashion week is worrying (if you take it out if context). If you’re a photographer or a blogger wanting to get some cool content observing and snapping what’s stylish, street style posts are a great way for alternative content and really gets you in that LFW spirit.

• No FROW invites? No problem. Live-streams are the new FROW. You can either head to the LFW website or major spots such as the big screen in Piccadilly, London where Victoria Beckham showcased her last collection. And it’s not just London, show highlights are also being shown on various screens across Birmingham, Glasgow, Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester and Newcastle. There’s another reason not to fret if you don’t have FROW tickets and that’s because of the host of fashion exhibitions in London's best museums and galleries. One which certainly needs a mention is the Christian Dior exhibition at the V&A. Until the 19th July, head down to the beautiful V&A to see the exhibition that traces the history and impact of one of the 20th century's most influential couturiers, exploring the enduring influence of the fashion house, and Dior’s relationship with Britain.
• Get to shows early. The unwritten rule of ‘Fashionably late’ doesn’t go down well at LFW, as in most cases you’ll find yourself not being admitted to a show. It’s like the theatre in many forms - the artwork and the rules. I’ve also heard of a fair few people watching live streaming the shows in their cars because of the LFW traffic gridlock. Walking is your best friend.

Prepare for the unexpected. Anything can happen at LFW, so keep your mind open and enjoy the rollercoaster that is London Fashion Week.

My top show picks are:

Saturday 16th February

12pm - Alexa Chung

1pm - Jasper Conran

5pm - House of Holland

5:30pm - Adidas Originals by Ji Won Choi.

Sunday 17th February

10am - Victoria Beckham

2pm - Vivienne Westwood

3pm - Fashion East

5pm - Burberry

Monday 18th February

9:30am - Paul Costello

11am - ERRDEM

1pm - JW Anderson

1pm - Aspinal of London

2pm - Pringle of Scotland

3pm - Christopher Kane

Outfit Details

Coat - Missguided 

Bodysuit - New Look

Jeans - Zara 

Bag - Zara 

Boots - Nasty Gal

Mx