Carole: London Fashion Week

As some of you might remember from previous entries or stories I have written these past months, I was born in London and although have lived in several parts of the world, one thing is constant in my life and that is the love of fashion. Now I live in New York City, my second home, I am lucky enough to call two wonderful cities home.  What excitement to be in London, not only for the main purpose of a family celebration, but also London Fashion Week. And such an amazing coincidence that the London shows were taking place during my four and a half days visit. Although I did not have any invites this year, being caught up in the excitement of Fashion Week, the mood on the streets, the energy in some of my favorite stores satisfied my thirst for my passion. I am not the most camera savvy and usually end up a video by mistake. I managed to figure it out and took some photos regardless (my genius friends at Apple tell me some of the best pictures are taken because of emotion). 

Looking at the following will drive you to the realization that I am not talking about designers in this story, I want to share with you some of the excitement that is London for me, show or not it still is one the fashion capitals of the world  where fashion and trends are born. Some of the most creative talent that we have seen in the last couple of decades have all been products of England as you must already know (Stella McCartney, Matthew Williamson, the late Alexander McQueen to name a few).

COLOR SPLASH-THE CATWALKS AND WINDOWS WERE A RIOT OF DAZZLING BRIGHTS THIS SEASON, AS SUMPTUOUS JEWEL TONES AND GLOWING FLUORESCENT  EXPLODE ACROSS THE COLLECTIONS AND WINDOWS.

WORN HEAD TO TOE HUE OR IN BOLDLY CLASHING COMBINATIONS, LUSH COLOR  IS SPRINGS HUGE STYLE STORY. MY STYLE TIP BREAK TRADITIONAL COLOR WHEEL RULES! BLUE PLUS GREEN AND RED PLUS PINK ARE DESIRABLE CONTRASTING COMBINATIONS.

STYLE TIPS-RICH FABRICS SUCH AS LUXE TAFFETA  AND DUCHESSE SATIN ELEVATE YOUR LOOK. LONDON’S COUTURE WAS SHOWING HEAD TO TOE HUES.   THE KEY IS TO PICK ONE COLOR TRULY VIBRANT AND WEAR TOP TO BOTTOM.

HIGH STREET FASHION

THIS REPORT IS PERSONAL AND I AM NOT MENTIONING ANY ONE DESIGNER IN PARTICULAR, AS I WAS EQUALLY EXCITED ABOUT THE HIGH END STORES AS I WAS ABOUT THE HIGH STREET STORES (THE TERM USED  FOR THE MAJOR STREETS OF ENGLAND WHICH CATER TO THE MASSES). FOR DECADES DESIGNERS AND STYLISTS GO TO LONDON TO VISIT THEIR FAVORITE HIGH STREET STORE, BUY MANY GARMENTS AND ‘KNOCK EM OFF’. THE PICTURES DEPICT SOME GREAT TRENDS SHOWN AT ALL PRICE POINTS.

MODERN CRAFT SEEMED TO HAVE A GLAMOROUS RETHINK. THIS SEASON. TASSELS, FEATHERS AND CROCHET APPLIQUES OF LACE ADD TEXTURE TO SIMPLE SHIFT DRESSES. SOME DESIGNERS WERE VERY CLEVER BY USING OLD ARTISAN TECHNIQUES BY PLAITING, WEAVING TO CREATE PIECES WHICH LOOK BEAUTIFULLY HANDMADE.

STRIPES-EVERY FEW SPRING SEASON WE SEE THIS FAITHFUL REINVENTION AND LONDON HAS IT AT ALL PRICE LEVELS. FROM TUNIC DRESSES TO T-SHIRTS, KNITTED BLAZERS AND AGELESS ATTIRE MAKE THE STRIPE CURRENT.

AS FAR AS A GREAT NEW JACKET FOR THE SEASON, THERE ARE SOME WONDERFUL CHOICES. IF I COULD SPLURGE I WOULD BUY A SHORT SCRUMPTIOUS LEATHER JACKET TO WEAR OVER A SHORT OR LONG MAXI DRESS. THE KNIT JACKET A’LA CHANEL WAS ANOTHER FAVORITE, GIVING A GIRLIE FEEL WORN WITH A GEORGETTE BLOUSE SOLID OR PRINT.   

EMBRACE THE WIDER FLARE TROUSER (SOME OF YOU MIGHT LAUGH AS YOU MIGHT NOT HAVE THROWN YOURS AWAY). THEY CERTAINLY ARE MORE FLATTERING IF THEY ARE TIGHTER IN THE LEG WITH A HIGHER WAIST. IT CERTAINLY LOOKS SEXIER WEARING A WEDGE SANDAL OR A BOOT BUT DOING YOUR OWN THING IS THE WAY TO GO!

NEON COLOR HAS TRADITIONALLY BEEN ASSOCIATED WITH STREET FASHION AND THE YOUTH MARKET BUT THIS SEASON NEON GREW UP, FROM VIVID LASER CUTS TO FEMININE BRIGHTS.

LADYLIKE BRIGHTS  ELEGANT CUTS MEET EXPLOSIVE COLORS IN A BURST OF BRILLIANT GLAMOUR . FEELING SHY? GO FOR ELECTRIC ACCESSORIES. EYE POPPING BAGS AND SHOES  OR GREAT COLORED BANGLES.

Left: TWO BRITISH HOTTIES! 

Right: LIBERTY OF LONDON SIDE ENTRANCE. ALWAYS  HAVE THE FLOWER OF THE SEASON IN FULL VIEW

'PECKHAM RYE' IS SLANG FOR 'YOUR TIE', SO WHAT A PERFECT PLACE TO BUY YOUR FELLAS TIE!

CARNABY STREET. THE 60’S EXPLOSION. WHERE IT ALL BEGAN!

As the famous British song goes... 

“Maybe it’s because I’m a Londoner, that I love London so.”

Love,

Carole