My Fashion Life

Yesterday, was a very exciting day. Not just because Topshop in New York opened, or because the sun finally shone on London town. But because Michelle Obama was at my place of work.

Ok, maybe that’s a slight exaggeration, she was in Covent Garden, which is the same area. So after making someone ask the police what all the fuss was about and they replied that Michelle Obama was coming, I began to get very excited. Being a journalist who profiles her dress sense, I thought this would be a fantastic opportunity to be there, on the front line, knowing what she’s wearing before everyone else.

Needless to say, despite much neck straining and occasional Starbucks breaks I didn’t actually manage to see her. Despite the fact that I was probably no more than 500m away from her. All very depressing.

“But enough of you, what was she up to?” I hear you cry! Well I am very glad you asked, because she had a very exciting purpose indeed. A most fashionable of engagements was held at the Royal Opera House.

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With some of the prettiest colour combinations I’ve seen, Carlotta Gherzi’s AW09 Sado collection featured simple silk pieces in grey, raspberry, orange and peach.  Prim puff sleeve blouses, boxy cropped jackets, and mini capes in yummy sherbet dip hues were worn with grey knee socks and raspberry platform ankle boots.  With a vaguely 70s feel to the show, Ali MacGraw in Love Story sprang to mind.

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Designer Phoebe Philo was the mastermind behind the Chloe we all love and adore. She brought girliness to the forefront of design and made pastels cool again. Yes, Phoebe Philo is a design dream. She has been away for a while, but is back to take the helm at Celine. And not only that but the first collection will be shown in June this year.

In an interview with WWD Philo explained that the line is “to be less about fashion and trend and to do something more about pieces and style.” The collection has been devised into capsules, which compromise of “investment pieces”. Talking about the range itself, Philo said:

“There’s going to be a big emphasis on trousers and jackets and blouses, and pieces that mix together. It’s also designed in such a way that it takes you through the day. It’s certainly how I dress, and it feels right.”

In a unique turn, the French brand is now being created in London at Philo’s request: “I think it’s really interesting, the idea of doing something with a French brand out of London – to try and break out of the old French house system.”

Well whatever she’s up to and wherever she’s making it, it’s sure to be a girlish delight. But Philo gained such a huge following from her Chloe days one can only wonder whether Celine will live up to expectations. It also seems a more mature brand, Chloe was a wearable, young, free and spirited style, just look at the above image – pure gorgeousness. But Celine conjures images of suits and patent handbags. We will of course have to wait until June, but here’s hoping for that soft deliciousness, that’s been missing from our catwalks.

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It could possibly have been the fact that Valentines day occured during London fashion week….who knows? But its safe to say that the majority of collections at fell into two camps:

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The most common question asked while waiting for shows to start has got to be, “So…which has been your favourite show so far?” Now that all the chaos is over and I’ve had a chance to reflect on the week that was London Fashion Week, I must admit I have two favourites – Aganovich and Deryck Walker (although it could well have been three as word is that Avsh Lom Gur’s collection was amazing!). Others that came close - Peter Jensen, Jaeger London, Felder Felder and Armand Basi.

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The show began with the Ashish we’ve come to know and love - sequins and colour! This wasn’t a collection for the career woman that works long hours, instead it was made for the lady “taking time out….from a life which didnt deliver the glamour she’d once anticipated”.

I didn’t actually pick up on that… instead I felt it was more Parisian city girl chic - glam shift dresses came in sequinned houndstooth, or with big cut out holes. 50’s style skirts were created using fun prints. Party dresses and jackets were embellished with great big sequinned letters. Keeping in tradition with past collections there was a noticable sporty influence.

I loved the crazy eye wear, in particular a pair of shades with the Eiffel tower perched on the frame and the headwear was extravangantly fabulous! Stand out piece? An oversized coat with juicy cherries sewn on.

As the lights dimmed in a smoky East End venue, the Rodnik boys picked up their instruments and began to play. Girls decked out in flirtatious party dresses of shiny black, hot pink and quirky prints rocked out like groupies, capturing the mischievous energy that designers Rich and Paul generated on stage.

Despite emerging from distinctly non-fashion backgrounds, the boys’ continued their popular collaboration between music and fashion, shunning an over intellectual approach in favour of a simple, flattering silhouette which captured their spirit of “rock brand chic”.

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After a couple of days of running from show to show and spotting similarities in each collection, you tend to think you have a fair idea of what to expect from the rest of the week however the collection at Armand Basi today totally threw me off. While many other designers so far have opted to cinch waists with skinny or big belts, designer Markus Lupfer went with volume and lots of it!

The collection was rich in colour and featured cropped jackets, smock dresses with large swirly prints, close fitting print jumpers, billowy full bodied skirts and oversized parachute type dresses that resembled pieces from past seasons of Oscar de La Renta, only 10 sizes larger.

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After being away from LFW for two seasons in a row, Emma Cook made a comeback that was much anticipated. Champagne and canapés were served prior to the show courtesy of Topshop and everyone was feeling bubbly and excited to see what Emma had cooked up (no pun intended).

Just as it was all about to kick off a photographer screamed “Get your bag off the catwalk”, everyone turned, only to discover the culprit was an embarrassed Philip Green (Topshop boss)…cringe!

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