By Nicole Fraser
London’s Fashion Week is ultimately the most prestigious and inspiring seven days that any devoted fashion enthusiast could be fortunate enough to attend. The event, which takes place twice a year, in February and September, ranks alongside New York, Paris and Milan, completing the four fashion capitals of the world.
Image: Guardian.co.uk / Jonathan Short
This year’s September 2012 Fashion Week compromised of a total of 62 catwalk shows and 20 presentations, with most of the events taking place in Somerset House in central London. Universally renowned designers, such as Vivienne Westwood, Nicole Farhi and winner of the Vogue fashion fund Jonathan Saunders, blessed the catwalk and stunned the audience with their spring and summer collections for 2013.
Throughout the week there were many events held to illuminate the influence of fashion. The ‘On Film’ panel dedicated films each day of the events held in London’s Fashion Week, which were shown in the Canon Cinema. The members of the panel also hosted a question and answer gathering with the designers. There were many parties held during the week to celebrate, such as the launch of J.W. Anderson’s collaboration with Topshop, Shopbop cocktail and dinner socials and after parties for designer catwalk presentations such as Felder Felder’s SS13 Collection.
Although most of these events were fascinating and influenced everyone to engage and come together through their own individual admiration for fashion, the main reason that over 5,000 visitors attended the event, was to indulge in the catwalk presentations and shows illustrated by the most significant designers in the world. Friday 14 September, the first day of London’s fashion week, was overflowing with flamboyantly coloured patterned attire, producing a summertime feel from designer Caroline Charles, co-worker of Mary Quant, named “Latin America”. Also throughout the weekend, John Roca presented raw and romantic garments such as bold puffball dresses. This intrigued the audience as the use of delicate and intricate material used to create dress resembled the texture of a red rose, which further enhanced the erotic ambiance. The colour red was the main focus in Rocha’s Spring/Summer collection illustrating models as passionate and lustful through the sensual association of scarlet.
On 16 September Philip Treacy returned to London Fashion Week and presented his Spring/Summer collection for 2013, which mesmerised the spectators. Models were in militant uniform style attire, which created a sense of hostility and dominance. Face masks and head pieces were the main subject of focus, which played a significant role in creating the illusion of power through size and shape. Black was apparent in the majority of the attire – the colour most associated with evil and darkness – implying that the military uniform could be used to perform immoral and sinful practice. Treacy displayed black fitted trousers and plain black shoes to conclude the outfits, formal and serious attire, illustrating supremacy and control, all through the work of an artist.
Overall, London Fashion Week was a memorable and treasured event filled with admiration and wonder towards the legendary and industrious designers. London’s Fashion Week, is therefore argued to be the most momentous and inspiring occasion to be held each year. Not only because international designers are able to highlight the enormous effort they apply to their work but to inspire us, the public, to indulge in the beauty and exhilaration that mere fabric can produce in our lives. To create ourselves as something unimaginable and unique, to bring self-esteem to the individual through the clothes they wear every day, that, is ultimately the most cherished and moving effect of London’s Fashion Week.
