LFW SS17

The heavens opened for the first full day of London Fashion Week, showcasing the newest trends to inspire and influence the fashion conscious for the seasons ahead. With the paparazzi snapping the front-rowers and a plethora of street style to enthuse over, the streets of London welcomed the most famous faces of the fashion world. Let’s have a look at three of the most anticipated shows of the weekend:

Bora Aksu

“She inspired me…to keep my inner child and joy alive through difficult times.” Inspired by the childhood of his Grandmother, growing up by the Aegean Sea, Bora Aksu’s SS17 collection evoked a wonderful sense of romance and childhood nostalgia. Intricate flower crowns accompanied garden bloom dresses in buttercup yellows, cornflower blues and blossom pinks. Layers of silk tulle, hand-embroidery and organza gave an ethereal feel to the collection while the frill necklines and Peter Pan collars were reminiscent of the era in mind. Black, floor length Victoriana dresses juxtaposed with the overall fairy tale feel brought a darker, almost gothic edge to the collection.

DAKS

At the DAKS show we were gracefully whisked back to the nineteenth century by the quintessentially British brand. Pretty crochet detailing, DAKS House Check, bell sleeves and long, flowing dresses were certainly reminiscent of a bygone age.

Rich burgundy, crisp whites and a flash of orange collided beautifully with a welcoming injection of metallics seen in wide belts and androgynous jackets. Loose silhouettes were coupled with conservative necklines and long hemlines in womenswear while shorter hem lengths and tunics worn over trousers seen in menswear. Large metal cuffs, long beaded necklaces and decorative turbans emphasised the Indian influence of the DAKS collection which was smart, wearable and oh so elegant. The perfect runway for the modern, confident woman.

Fashion East

Returning from last season, A.V. Robertson, Richard Malone and Mini Wade were joined by Central St. Martins graduate, Matty Bovan.

“We’re hugely proud of all our talented designers and delighted to welcome Matty into the mix – this is my dream line up! It’s super exciting to be hosted in our sponsor Topshop’s venue again, this season in Old Spitalfields Market in the heart of our home, the East End.” Lulu Kennedy MBE, Director of Fashion East said.

Matty Bovan: With an eclectic mix of sequins, iridescent fabrics, tassels and ripped clothing taped back together again, this was a collection with attitude and vibrancy. Neon colours coupled with fishnet tights and oversized earrings gave a nod to the 80s. Accessorised with Coach handbags and bespoke Linda Farrow sunglasses, this is certainly a unique and impressive introduction to fashion week by Bovan.

A.V. Robertson: Taking inspiration from outer space and toxic plants taking over the world, we saw long sheer slips with intricate Swarovski crystal embroidery and silk blouses at the A.V. Robertson show. Dramatic makeup and the inclusion of silver metallics mixed with leather encouraged the story of invasion.

Richard Malone: A contrast to the two previous collections, we saw bright primary colours and smart tailoring at Richard Malone for Fashion East. A collection inspired by an interest in the uniforms of the working class; shirts and pinafore dresses were reinvented with stripes, asymmetric detailing and revealing cut-outs.