London Fashion Week: Insider Guide

London is preparing for what promises to be a spectacular fashion week. This year, it coincides with the BAFTAs and the Brits, bringing together the great and good from the music and film worlds. While the hot tickets include established designers such as Christopher Kane, Burberry Prorsum, Jonathan Saunders and Matthew Williamson -  it is Irish designer JW Anderson who is the name to watch. 

His clean, minimalist designs have captured the eye of luxury brand Loewe, where he was appointed creative director last autumn. Kicking off the shows is rising talent, Jackie Lee, of J.JS Lee. A Central Saint Martins graduate and recent winner of the British Fashion Council's Fashion Forward prize - Jackie's chic, feminine tailoring is creating a real buzz.  

New additions to the catwalk schedule this season are Belstaff, (cue David Beckham and a high celebrity turn out on the front row), and high street brands Joseph and Whistles. Other names to watch include funky knitwear label Sibling, and Simone Rocha, daughter of John Rocha.

London Fashion Week is an industry event and not accessible to the public. However, fashion lovers will be interested in London Fashion Weekend, the consumer event which runs from February 20-23, also at Somerset House. It is a designer shopping event with some discounted designer goods, exclusive offers and competitions - so if you're into fashion and love shopping, this is a must.  Labels such as Lulu Guiness, Pringle of Scotland, French Sole and By Malene Birger sit alongside lesser known brands such as jewellers Thor & Wistle and Cashmere by Tania. 

The aim of London Fashion Weekend is to introduce the public to emerging labels, and with over 60 stands there is something for everyone. There are catwalk shows (Julien Macdonald, Maria Grachvogel or Nicole Farhi) depending on which day you go, pop up shops, and industry experts from the beauty world are on hand to offer advice and give talks.  Tickets range from £20 - £130, and are split into price bands of bronze, silver, gold and luxe - the latter offering amongst other things, front row seats for catwalk shows and a limited edition designer tote. 

The event runs from 11am to 9pm, and tickets are allocated in 3/4 hour stretches to minimise queueing.

What's not to love?

London fashion week: February 14-18

Click here to book tickets to London Fashion Weekend Feb 20-23