What to expect from London Fashion Week SS18
What will the trends be? Where can you see them? Your guide to upcoming LFW shows this September 2017
What to expect from London Fashion Week 2017
London Fashion Week Dates: Friday 15 September to Tuesday 19 September
What makes London Fashion Week special?
We're not talking about the weather. London Fashion Week is – as Sunday Times writer Pandora Sykes told us in an interview – 'mostly bonkers'. Paris can keep its Chanel space shuttle, and Milan can keep Dolce and Gabbana (though it'd be nice to borrow Gucci). London isn't ruled by ateliers and the wrath of Karl Lagerfield's perfect cat. Instead, London is ruled by street style, NEWGEN designers and brute optimism about SS 2018 even when the weather's being sulky.
How much street wear is too much streetwear?
For capturing the zeitgeist of London, the real catwalk is outside, before the shows, where women pose on the pavements for photographers and passing cars. Though London is no-holds-barred wacky, you can spot some common denominators and hopefully some autumn trends. On the off-duty models, look out for feet practically aglow in iridescently white trainers, their legs falling out of ripped jeans. Some styles never change. On bloggers, expect: silver trans-seasonal boots, cardigans and a flash of streetwear. On 40-something owners of online shopping websites: look out for pieces of Gucci and long floral dresses. Shout Bingo! if you spot someone trailing their exaggerated sleeves into their morning macchiato (provided by sponsor Lavazza).
What are the new trends?
To spot trends, you either need to go to every show and be a fashion editor, or go to none of the shows and therefore escape the influence of seeing crazy Ryan Lo and mistakenly thinking everyone will be dressed like a catfight in a tinsel factory. Not knowing what will come up is all part of the fun, but we like to think that SS18 will feature some more sharp tailoring to fight back all those pairs of ripped denim, a brand new ugly shoe of some description, a transition from millennial pink (yawn) to a more complicated lilac (as seen recently on the Duchess of Cambridge) – and perhaps the death of wearing your sports leggings.
Who will be on the Fashion Front Row?
A delightfully awkward mix of bloggers, editors, models, and celebrities all crossing their legs the same way, the FROW will either be frowning in concentration or looking like the best friends in the world. But with a new guard at Vogue, the FROW might see a switch-up. Look out for Editor-in-Chief Edward Enninful and Naomi Campbell taking their rightful places front and centre.
Who are London's exciting young designers?
Despite the need to predict SS18 trends, no one really knows what designers will do next. The NEWGEN list this year has Richard Malone, Paula Knorr, Marta Jakubowski, Molly Goddard, Sadie Williams and our new favourite, Halpern, showing this year. The most exciting designers are new and visionary and we don't know how their talent will turn for summer 2018. Molly Goddard already showed a preview of her collection at the Reveal Festival at the V&A in July... but ironically, the PR team has an embargo on revealing their latest designs.
How will London react to Tommy Hilfiger?
Tommy Hilfiger is closing London Fashion Week on Tuesday evening for the first time. The All-American brand has had a recent resurgence, employing Gigi Hadid to model its latest looks. They might even steal Burberry's thunder.
Which are the big shows?
Burberry is showing on Saturday night. Due to live streaming and instantly shoppable collections the internet might well explode, especially since, once again, the collection is instantly available for purchase. Erdem, showing on Monday will do something beautiful with their dresses that will make you lust for a fashion party to attend – and you'll have wait until November to buy their H&M collaboration. You can live stream at the official LFW website live stream, or find the pictures everywhere else. There are outdoor screens across London too, including at Carnaby Street, where there are heaps of events and discounts, too.
What will Burberry do?
Henry Moore sculptures and a sculptural exhibition of fantastical monochrome capes at Maker's House in Spring made Burberry's time at London Fashion Week so much more than just a show. But will they do anything this time around? They have done a great deal toward making London Fashion Week accessible – even those who don't have a ticket, speaking of which...
Will you see bloggers taking pictures next to Regency-style buildings?
This strangely specific trend is set to continue. Everyone likes pretending they own one of London's expensive pieces of property by holding onto a pillar or stepping off the doorstep.
Will Lucinda Chambers get a ticket?
'Fired' from Vogue, Fashion Director Lucinda Chambers published a tell-all interview with a little-known publication, criticising the fashion industry and admitting she hadn't read Vogue in years. She called out employers for making their workers feel anxious and unstable – an anxiety that she admitted she felt now she was leaving Vogue, specifically about getting tickets to fashion shows. Well, look out for her.
Where should you go?
Some venues rightly stay the same this year. Somerset House will be a hub, and there'll also be a buzz around Central St Martins in Kings Cross and the London College of Fashion on Oxford Street. Many of the events will be held at The Strand, where LFW moved in February. Hilfiger will show at the Roundhouse.
Who should you look out for?
You have a high chance of spotting Alexa Chung, Edie Campbell, Zandra Rhodes, Anna Wintour or a grand fashion dame like Vivienne Westwood.
London Fashion Week has some predictable elements, we admit: sunglasses, gaggles of models, armies of bloggers. But of all the 'big four' (the others being New York, Milan and Paris) it's definitely the most surprising, the kookiest and supplies the craziest upcoming fashion trends. London, you've got it in spades. Whatever 'it' is.
Here's you ultimate guide to all you can expect from London Fashion Week – trends and tips for the September Shows.
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What makes London Fashion Week special?
We're not talking about the weather. London Fashion Week is – as Sunday Times writer Pandora Sykes told us in an interview – 'mostly bonkers'. Paris can keep its Chanel space shuttle, and Milan can keep Dolce and Gabbana (though it'd be nice to borrow Gucci). London isn't ruled by ateliers and the wrath of Karl Lagerfield's perfect cat. Instead, London is ruled by street style, NEWGEN designers and brute optimism about SS 2018 even when the weather's being sulky.
How much street wear is too much streetwear?
For capturing the zeitgeist of London, the real catwalk is outside, before the shows, where women pose on the pavements for photographers and passing cars. Though London is no-holds-barred wacky, you can spot some common denominators and hopefully some autumn trends. On the off-duty models, look out for feet practically aglow in iridescently white trainers, their legs falling out of ripped jeans. Some styles never change. On bloggers, expect: silver trans-seasonal boots, cardigans and a flash of streetwear. On 40-something owners of online shopping websites: look out for pieces of Gucci and long floral dresses. Shout Bingo! if you spot someone trailing their exaggerated sleeves into their morning macchiato (provided by sponsor Lavazza).
Ryan Lo AW17
What are the new trends?
To spot trends, you either need to go to every show and be a fashion editor, or go to none of the shows and therefore escape the influence of seeing crazy Ryan Lo and mistakenly thinking everyone will be dressed like a catfight in a tinsel factory. Not knowing what will come up is all part of the fun, but we like to think that SS18 will feature some more sharp tailoring to fight back all those pairs of ripped denim, a brand new ugly shoe of some description, a transition from millennial pink (yawn) to a more complicated lilac (as seen recently on the Duchess of Cambridge) – and perhaps the death of wearing your sports leggings.
Who will be on the Fashion Front Row?
A delightfully awkward mix of bloggers, editors, models, and celebrities all crossing their legs the same way, the FROW will either be frowning in concentration or looking like the best friends in the world. But with a new guard at Vogue, the FROW might see a switch-up. Look out for Editor-in-Chief Edward Enninful and Naomi Campbell taking their rightful places front and centre.
Star studded- a front row, featuring Kate Moss, Vanessa Kirby and Alexa Chung
Who are London's exciting young designers?
Despite the need to predict SS18 trends, no one really knows what designers will do next. The NEWGEN list this year has Richard Malone, Paula Knorr, Marta Jakubowski, Molly Goddard, Sadie Williams and our new favourite, Halpern, showing this year. The most exciting designers are new and visionary and we don't know how their talent will turn for summer 2018. Molly Goddard already showed a preview of her collection at the Reveal Festival at the V&A in July... but ironically, the PR team has an embargo on revealing their latest designs.
How will London react to Tommy Hilfiger?
Tommy Hilfiger is closing London Fashion Week on Tuesday evening for the first time. The All-American brand has had a recent resurgence, employing Gigi Hadid to model its latest looks. They might even steal Burberry's thunder.
Which are the big shows?
Burberry is showing on Saturday night. Due to live streaming and instantly shoppable collections the internet might well explode, especially since, once again, the collection is instantly available for purchase. Erdem, showing on Monday will do something beautiful with their dresses that will make you lust for a fashion party to attend – and you'll have wait until November to buy their H&M collaboration. You can live stream at the official LFW website live stream, or find the pictures everywhere else. There are outdoor screens across London too, including at Carnaby Street, where there are heaps of events and discounts, too.
Makers House, featuring 'The Cape Reimagined'', an exhibition by Burberry in February 2017.
What will Burberry do?
Henry Moore sculptures and a sculptural exhibition of fantastical monochrome capes at Maker's House in Spring made Burberry's time at London Fashion Week so much more than just a show. But will they do anything this time around? They have done a great deal toward making London Fashion Week accessible – even those who don't have a ticket, speaking of which...
Will you see bloggers taking pictures next to Regency-style buildings?
This strangely specific trend is set to continue. Everyone likes pretending they own one of London's expensive pieces of property by holding onto a pillar or stepping off the doorstep.
Will Lucinda Chambers get a ticket?
'Fired' from Vogue, Fashion Director Lucinda Chambers published a tell-all interview with a little-known publication, criticising the fashion industry and admitting she hadn't read Vogue in years. She called out employers for making their workers feel anxious and unstable – an anxiety that she admitted she felt now she was leaving Vogue, specifically about getting tickets to fashion shows. Well, look out for her.
Regency Influencers @rosielondoner and @5incheandup
Where should you go?
Some venues rightly stay the same this year. Somerset House will be a hub, and there'll also be a buzz around Central St Martins in Kings Cross and the London College of Fashion on Oxford Street. Many of the events will be held at The Strand, where LFW moved in February. Hilfiger will show at the Roundhouse.
Who should you look out for?
You have a high chance of spotting Alexa Chung, Edie Campbell, Zandra Rhodes, Anna Wintour or a grand fashion dame like Vivienne Westwood.
NEWGEN designer and Culture Whisper favourite, Halpern
