Here at MFL we are super excited about the prospect of London Fashion Week and can’t wait to see what the crème de la crème of British design has in store for us. However, we have to admit, it can be a bit of a minefield deciding who we should be focusing on. After all, there are around 100 designers showing this year!

That being said, there are three shows in particular we shall not be missing. They are the designers we get most excited about; the most talked about, the most exciting and the most creative.

Here are our top three ones to watch…

BURBERRY PRORSUM

It pretty much goes without saying, but the bi-annual Burberry Prorsum shows have become major events in the national style calendar. It is a brand which makes us proud to be British and captures the imagination of the whole world. We can’t wait to see what Christopher Bailey has in store this time round. Of course, we can’t go without mentioning the amazing Tweetwalk happening again for the second time. Ingeniously, now Burberry’s twitter followers can view the collection even before it heads out on the runway!

CHRISTOPHER KANE

The genius that is Christopher Kane never fails to get us lusting after his new collections. Even now, seasons later, we are still yearning for his 2011 Resort Collection galaxy print dresses. And don’t even get us started on those A/W 10 floral embroidered leather jackets. Sigh. Iconic pieces in their own right, his collections never fail to cause a stir. As one of the most unique talents in British fashion, Christopher Kane’s show definitely can’t be missed.

VIVIENNE WESTWOOD

As the matriarch of British fashion, Vivienne Westwood’s shows are always a lesson in how it’s done. Her collections are a feast for the eyes and the event is always a dazzling spectacle. This time round it is sure to be packed to the rafters with A-listers and we can’t wait to see what Dame Viv has in store. Expect to see a selection of her celebrity friends walking the catwalk for her; in previous years Daisy Lowe, Jamie Winstone and Pamela Anderson have all hit the runway. We can’ wait!

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Want to meet Mary Portas and peruse her brand new spring/summer 2012 collection for Clarks with a complimentary cocktail in your hand? 

To coincide with Mary Portas launching her sophomore collection with Clarks (and of course, to celebrate London Fashion Week in style) the self proclaimed Queen of Shops is inviting all of you – yes, all of you – to have a drink and a chat with her at the Clarks store in London’s Oxford Street on February 21^st between 6 and 9 pm.

You’ll get the chance to meet Mary, ask her your burning style questions and try on and even buy her fabulous spring/summer 2012 collection! Not only that, but shoppers will get to sip a free bespoke ‘Bloody Mary’ cocktail – doesn’t sound bad, does it?

Mary and Clarks have lots of surprises up their sleeves, including the chance to win a free pair of shoes from the collection as part of the Mary Lucky Dip, as well as a host of other prizes and discounts.

So, if you have a spare ten minutes between shows at London Fashion Week or you’re just doing a spot of shopping, make sure you pop in to the 260 Oxford Street branch and say hello!

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Well, we didn’t expect this! Earlier today, it was announced that blonde sisters Savannah and Sienna Miller would be stepping down as co-creative directors of Twenty8Twelve, after six years of working with the label. 

“We’ve had a brilliant six years at Twenty8Twelve and are now looking forward to new pastures,” said the Miller sisters. “We wish the brand the best of luck for the future.”

According  to WWD, the label will still go ahead and show its new collection at London Fashion Week, but will instead be called Twenty8Twelve London instead of Twenty8Twelve by s.miller.

Although we’re shocked to hear that the girls have left their label, we have a feeling their new ventures will be equally as exciting, so we can’t wait to see what they have up their sleeves.

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Congratulations to three glorious womenswear designers Henry Holland, Louise Gray and Mary Katrantzou, and menswear designer James Long, who have just been announced at the recipients of the latest Fashion Forward sponsorship. 

The sponsorship will see the winners receive a cash prize and business support from the British Fashion Council for the next two years! Extra congrats go to James Long though, as he is the first ever menswear designer to receive the sponsorship!

“The recipients for this year’s Fashion Forward sponsorship are an exceptionally talented group of designers,” said Caroline Rush, the CEO of the British Fashion Council.

“2012 is set to be a momentous year not only for fashion industry but the UK and I am looking forward to seeing Henry, Louise, James and Mary, taking strides forward in their business development. Menswear in London will be put in the spotlight this year making now the perfect time to introduce a menswear prize to Fashion Forward.”

The winners were chosen from a long line of great designers by a prestigious judging panel, the likes of which include Vogue fashion editor Francesca Burns and BFC Ambassador of Emerging Talent Sarah Mower.

Congrats again to the very worthy winners; we can’t wait to see their autumn/winter 2012 collections at London Fashion Week next month!

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Squeal! You can’t even begin to understand the extent of our delight when an email landed in our inboxes saying that Moschino Cheap and Chic would be showing at London Fashion Week next month. 

Moschino’s younger Cheap & Chic line will be showing in London on Saturday the 18th February, and we couldn’t be happier to welcome it to our city.

“London is renowned for its contemporary style and famous sense of humor making it the perfect place to exhibit Moschino Cheap and Chic’s DNA and energy,” said creative director Rossella Jardini. “I’m sure London will be the appropriate platform for this line to grow whilst still remembering its roots.”

Here, here! Joining Moschino Cheap and Chic in the newbie section is Belstaff, which is showing a combined womenswear and menswear show on Sunday February 19th.

What is London Fashion Week if not a platform for designers to showcase their collections in a new environment? We can’t believe we are just over a month away from seeing all those autumn/winter 2012 collections paraded before us.

Bring it on!

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The British Fashion Council has just announced which eight of London’s emerging menswear designers will receive sponsorship from NEWGEN MEN, sponsored by Topman, for their upcoming collections. 

Catwalk sponsorship has been awarded to Christopher Shannon (whose spring/summer 2012 collection is pictured above) and J.W. Anderson, while Lou Dalton, Martine Rose and Matthew Miller have each been given Salon Show Presentation sponsorship. Finally, Installation sponsorship will go to Bunney, Christopher Raeburn and SIBLING.

“The calibre and variety of the talent coming up through NEWGEN is a brilliant reflection of exactly why London is shining in 2012,” said Sarah Mower, the BFC ambassador for emerging talent. “The designers selected for runway shows this season – both the fully-fledged designers Michael van der Ham, David Koma and Holly Fulton and the just-fledged J.W.Anderson, J.JS. Lee and Simone Rocha – are joined by brand new talents who are working their way up through the exhibition and presentation stages.”

The sponsorship recipients will have the opportunity to use the official BFC venue to showcase their collection on Menswear Day at London Fashion Week, which this season is happening on Wednesday 22^nd February.

We look forward to another great season of scouting upcoming talent – bring on February!

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It has just been announced that tonight’s British Fashion Awards will have a brand new category – the New Establishment Award. Erdem, Christopher Kane and Jonathan Saunders are the three inaugural names which have been nominated for the coveted accolade, due to their exemplary catwalk shows at London Fashion Week, as well as their business growth, prominence on red carpets and endless media coverage commending their fabulous collections. 

“Over the past four seasons London has cemented its status as a capital for innovation, with a group of new designers commanding front row audiences only previously seen at the shows of long-established luxury fashion brands,” reads an official press release. “This peer group is London’s New Establishment, bringing innovation to a luxury market. Sophisticated and exciting, they have surpassed being emerging designers and are growing into dynamic businesses, compelling even the most seasoned fashion retailers and journalists to sit up and take note.”

The British Fashion Awards will take place tonight at the Savoy Theatre, and will recognise the most influential people in the fashion industry today and of course, celebrating British fashion. We’ll bring you all the details – including the all-important winners – tomorrow!

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