The doors to Fashion week fling open today as the world’s style-leaders return to London, and we can’t wait to see what our favourite designers have in store for AW15. Not wanting to miss a beat, we’re teaming up with two of our regular bloggers to bring you exclusive front-row and behind-the-scenes access.
Today, we catch up with Dreaming of Chanel’s Andreea and Eileen Cuisine’s Elena to find out how their London Fashion Week preparations are coming together…
How many years have you been going to London Fashion Week (LFW)?
Andreea: I have been attending London Fashion Week for nearly 4 years now.
Elena: I’ve been going for 2 years now, so this will be my 4th season and I am really excited to see the new trends!
What has stood out for you most in the past?
Elena: The shows are always great and often very eccentric, but the most striking aspect for me is definitely the street style. You see everything from quirky and weird to so-out-of-style outfits that aren’t at all appropriate to LFW when all eyes are on you! It’s so inspiring, although I think we can still learn so much from Paris Fashion Week, where the streets turn into a catwalk.
Andreea: I remember my first season of LFW when I wore a beautiful, flowing floral maxi dress with a biker jacket, studded boots and trusted Chanel handbag. Minutes later, another fashionista appeared, wearing exactly the same dress! I was mortified!
How many months in advance do you need to start preparing for the next LFW?
Andreea: I usually start preparing at least one month in advance, but when it comes to organising and putting together the outfits, I need about a week. I like to call London Fashion Week a ‘style circus’ as it’s so full on! There will always be sleepless nights involved but overall it’s great fun!
Elena: I tend to panic two months before LFW, where I start sending emails for ticket requests for my favourite designers, and keep my fingers crossed! I then start looking to collaborate with different brands I can represent during London Fashion Week. In the last few days before the shows, I look for the perfect last-pieces to complete my outfits. It might seem easy and fun, but it is a lot of work. Sometimes, we don’t get to attend all the shows in our bucket list but there’s always next year!
What are you most excited about for the upcoming AW15 fashion week?
Andreea: Taking over BrandAlley’s Instagram account! Make sure you follow my daily LFW adventures and be the first to know about AW15’s key trends! There will be some sneaky behind-the-scenes and celeb spotting, too!
Elena: I am looking forward to the whole buzz of the week – the excitement of getting a front row seat, catching backstage glimpses, getting together with lots of my blogger friends, taking inspiration from the street style and, most importantly, sharing all this with my followers!
Which shows do you have tickets for?
Elena: Between us we will be seeing Huishan Zhang, Jean-Pierre Braganza, Bora Aksu, Paul Costelloe, Fyodor Golan, Simone Rocha, Sorapol, Vielma London, Allumer, Demasi London, Rohmir, Charli Cohen, Éthologie, Little Shilpa, Mariana Jungmann, GF Hawthorne, Zeynep Kartal, Apu Jan, Vietinio, to name just a few…!
Which designers should we be looking out for and why?
Andreea: Burberry Prorsum is quite possibly my favourite show in London and I’m always super-excited to see what they come up with every season. Burberry is definitely a must-see, trend-setting show!
Elena: I’ve been really impressed with Huishan Zhang’s last collection and I am looking forward to seeing what he has in store for us, with his romantic yet powerful details. Jean-Pierre Braganza and Bora Aksu have been two of my favourites ever since I’ve started attending LFW; they are both driven by passion for extravagance and femininity. Topshop Unique and Burberry are the most coveted shows this week and I’ll make sure to watch them online, as they are the most important influencers in the industry.
With a lot of pressure to ‘get it right’, how long does it take you to choose your outfits for LFW and what key pieces will you be focusing on this year?
Elena: It takes about two months to come up with a complete outfits, just because new collections appear each day, trends are established all the time, and what was a must-have last month might be dull the next. Research is important and I tend to browse lots of websites, blogs and magazine until I get it right. This season, my main focus will be on trends such as 70s’-inspired, utilitarian, masculine nautical, and modern eclectic, while my key pieces would be long coats, culottes, over-the-knee boots and tassels.
Andreea: I believe dressing for LFW is all about standing out, whilst remaining true to your own personal style. This season, I’m taking a more minimal approach – but fear not, you’ll still be seeing some pastels and girly pieces.
Who are your favourite designers?
Elena: Like I mentioned before, Huishan Zhang is my favourite designer during LFW and I look forward to watching his brilliant work. Burberry is the most anticipated show in London and it always delivers, so I can’t wait to see what Christopher Bailey has prepared for us.
Andreea: Needless to say, Chanel!
What’s your advice for those of us who don’t have tickets? What’s the best way to be involved, find out what’s going on and keep up with the shows?
Andreea: If you’re in London, come to Somerset House and feel the buzz even if you don’t have a ticket. Don’t forget that London Fashion Week is about networking and meeting new faces, so come and say hi! Stay updated by reading Vogue UK and checking the shows live on London Fashion Week’s official website.
Elena: And of course, make sure you follow @eileencuisine and @dreamingofchanel for lots of insights behind the scenes during LFW. We update our social media channels frequently, so you won’t miss anything. You can also go online on the LFW website to check the shows live – plus we’ll be taking over BrandAlley’s Instagram feed with all the latest news and gossip.
