Running, but not in heels, at Vodafone London Fashion Weekend.

We  always watch the TV programmes about the glamorous (the Hills) and not so glamorous (Ugly Betty) lives of Fashion Interns with dreamy eyes and hope in our hearts that, one day, it will be us at the front of that queue of models with a clipboard in one hand and a pen in the other, probably frantically ordering last minute adjustments to hair and the re-pinning of garments. So as you can imagine, we leaped at the chance to be runners behind the scenes of the Catwalk at Vodafone London Fashion Weekend.

Upon arrival at the tent in the courtyard of Somerset House, we were introduced to the Stylist Molly and her Assistant, Lily.We were then straight to work - and sent out on 'pick-ups.' To see the address of the Louboutin press office being written on the page before me was like heaven, that was until I had made it there, red faced from actually running, and felt the weight of 7 pairs of divine red soled platforms! I then ran back to the station with the discrete brown paper bags which were stuffed with pink tissue, the only give-away being the note attached to each, with 'Miss Molly' hand-written in the same classic font as the Louboutin signature which made the header above it. From there, I made my way to pick up a BodyAmr dress, which was handed over by Amr Ali himself!


Long before this, Evie had completed her pick up, which was Mark Fast garments. So by the time I got back, Evie had already completed the tasks of  checking that all the Mark Fast Garments were there, placing them on to hangers for models to try on with stylist Molly, and was making up the boards which display the models' head shots and looks. The twelve beautiful girls each had four looks, comprised of two trends (one being inspired by the film Black Swan, and the other putting a ladylike spin on the neon trend), and two designer collections, the first by Bora Aksu and the second by Mark Fast. Whilst clothes fittings were taking place alongside hair and make up, we took on the task of shoe fitting, wincing as the models literally squeezed their feet in to the skyscraper heels, jotting down requests for plasters and heel grips.

Once all of the shoes and clothes were organised, a shoe run through took place, confirming that a few models had sizing issues! This was rectified with the ingenious use of black tape, which was bound ever so tightly around the girls' feet if the shoes were prone to slipping off.

The models practicing their walks in the highest stilettos we've seen

Louboutins in action!

                

            

Above is Melinda's board and rail, we dressed her on Thursday. From left to right, the looks on the rail are by Mark Fast, Jasper Conran, Bora Aksu, and Jasper Garvida.

Valeria in a breathtaking Mark Fast dress, it took a few people to get this extraordinary     garment on and perfectly arranged.

Dressers and Molly's assistant, Lily, watch the live feed of the show by the side of the catwalk's entrance and exit.

                            

We got some great shots of the models as they left the catwalk for the final time, they all seemed very pleased to have made it in their heels! Above is Ania P and below is Marie.

It wasn't all hard work - we also got to have a peek at what Fashion Weekend had to offer in our breaks, meet Ellie Goulding, who performed at the catwalk, and I was also asked to stand in for a hair demonstration in the VIP Lounge, (my hair was back-combed into the high buns seen on the models above, a painful experience, but totally worth it as I got to squeeze in to a leather Giles dress!). We know experience is a priceless attribute in the battle for jobs in the Fashion Industry, but we honestly would do this again and again without question. It's hard work, it's voluntary, but it is so much fun. Thank you to everyone we met!! xx

The View from the Front Row

flashing lights

The Vodafone London Fashion Weekend Catwalk show took us on a tour of the hottest trends for A/W'10, and showcased exclusive collections from established designers. We saw the models in the' Nomad' and 'Kramer vs. Kramer' trends, dressed in garments from London's most reputable stores. Take a look at our pick of the best outfits below, as we guide you through how to recreate the looks for yourself.

The Nomad

The fur gilet



sheepskin cape and a flowing skirt



Layer chiffons, sheepskin and knits for the modern bohemian 'Nomad' trend. The ethnic style is inspired by world cultures, with patterns from India and wraps from Russia. Seen on the catwalk at John Galliano and Jean Paul Gaultier, the trend is easy to wear, and cosy enough for the coldest Winter!


Kramer vs. Kramer

buttercup hues for maxed out glamour

the staple camel coat

The 1970's housewife has been revived for the season ahead as the classic camel colour palette makes a comeback. The look embodies a softer power woman, with leg-lengthening trousers and cashmere coats nipped at the waist by a dressing gown style belt.

A timeless trend has emerged, make it your own with a silk shirt, perhaps tucked into leather culottes, and throw on the much coveted cape. We advise investment in this area, as the versatility creates room in your wardrobe for items that will never go out of fashion. 

Ashley Isham

space-age and structural

Chanel-esque tweed with glitter and attitude

The London-based Singapore-born designer is known for his show-stopping creations, favoured by Lady Gaga, Florence Welch and Kylie. The collection showcased Isham's diverse use of techniques, we saw his signature draping evolve to futuristic fabrics in sculptural forms. He draws inspiration from his Eastern roots, using detailed embellishment in his work for high-octane glamour.

Our favourite piece was the tweed ensemble pictured above, the glittered flecks throughout the fabric gave a nod to the metallic trend, and the outfit seemed both glamorous and versatile, easily dressed up with heel for the evening, or paired with a plain coat for less formal affairs.

BodyAmr

Grecian glamour

the show stopper

Grecian gowns glided down the catwalk, and despite the amount of fabric in them, they didn't fail to flatter. The models embodied a true glamazon, with long legs emerging from the masses of opulently coloured fabric. Blocks of plum and coral gave a feminine feel, whilst the cut, which wasn't answering to quick-moving fashion trends, meant that the dresses were sleek, modern and timeless.
BodyAmr creates dresses worthy of any red carpet, and Amber Rose and Daisy Lowe walked for his show at Fashion Week. We can see ourselves in these grown up gowns feeling every inch the power woman.

the final walk

Harajuku Freak

Japanese designers have always been at the centre of fashion as they create the most innovative and daring statement pieces, they are also known for their skills, often using the mannequin rather than traditional pattern cutting to create their garments. We found some very exciting examples of Japanese Avant-Garde design talent at Vodafone London Fashion Weekend.

AKIRA NAKA

During his time as a student at the Royal College of Fine Art Antwerp, Naka met a tailor and this inspired him to become a designer. Success was imminent as he was selected to join the Hyeres International Mode Festival. Before returning to Japan in 2006, Naka also added knitwear to his repertoire, working for an American knitwear designer. 

Both of the jackets above show a clear confidence with leather, pig skin in particular is part of his unusual material choices. Zips and studs also adorn his garments, as he puts his mark on the traditional biker jacket.





Pictured above is a jacket featuring panels of silver material, which is in fact titanium similar to the coating on touch screen phones.

@IZREEL

@IZREEL's edgy menswear

Initially majoring in Mathematics, Takakura debuted his first collection when he launched @IZREEL in May 2003, and is going on to expand his horizons by signing contracts with brands and designers worldwide. We were told that fans of his work include Jay Z and the Black Eyed Peas.

The inspiration for this season's collection was Japanese armour, asymmetric cuts and metallic finishes give an edge to his heritage. 

A kimono inspired summer dress by Theatre Products

Fashion With a Conscience

Since 2007,  the Environmental Justice Foundation has encouraged shoppers to 'pick your cotton carefully' to try to improve cotton production without child labour involved. The charity helps promote awareness of the amount of child labour in cotton films by filming and photographing companies that deny speculation. Child labour usually happens in developing countries such as Pakistan and India where government involvement is limited.

Many of our local high street shops use the cotton that is farmed by children, however it's hard for companies in the UK to take control of what happens when production is outsourced.

These exclusive t-shirts were on sale at London Fashion Weekend

The Vodafone London Fashion Weekend catwalk exhibited how the t-shirt can be dressed-up to make the perfect statement, and for extra style points, the line up of legendary designers to collaborate with the charity includes Christian Lacroix, Luella and John Rocha.

 All t-shirts are made in the UK and produced with organic fair trade cotton and organic inks, making the garments unstoppable with both quality and ethical production. The t-shirts are designed around the theme of "childhood, lost innocence and hope".

Courtesy of Environmental Justice Foundation

T-shirts are often used by designers, such as Vivienne Westwood, to make a political statement as it's a clear way to make a message.

Models like Lily Cole have been at the forefront of the campaign, images have been seen throughout Elle and Vogue which has increased publicity dramatically. Other models who have been photographed to help are Devon Aoki, Noemie Lenoir, Noot Seear, Kimberly Stewart, Lui Wen and Poppy Delevigne. 

All the profits go straight back into the charity, allowing women to shop guilt-free.

 

Highlights of London Fashion Weekend

We're going to be making several posts about designers and experiences we had at Vodafone London Fashion Weekend, so here's a breakdown of what we'll be covering over the next week.

Arriving at Somerset House

Vodafone London Fashion Weekend is a 4 day event following on from London Fashion Week, giving the public a chance to experience catwalk shows and exclusive designer discounts. We were there on Friday, seeking out the hottest AW trends in all areas of fashion.

Rosie and Mollie from Alex Monroe

We were particularly interested in many of the jewellery designers exhibiting in The Tent, and if you haven't already, check out our guest post for the OSOblog. OSOYOU is part of Aigua Media Ltd, which reaches over 1 million women a month. Launched at London Fashion Week in 2007, by Grazia Magazine's Dawn Bebe, the network combines several blogs for every fashionista's need.



Fashion helps Charity

The Environmental Justice Foundation collaborated with our favourite designers to display a range of fashion conscious t-shirts, which were on sale at Vodafone London Fashion Weekend. The company use all profits in their fight to stop child exploitation in cotton fields, allowing shoppers to feel guilt-free.

There was also a £5 raffle with a chance to win a range of great fashion related prizes.

Finsk's architectural shoe

Through out the day we hunted down must-have shoes and bags that caught our eye. We gathered a real mix of styles and the biggest bargains that would instantly make a statement for the modern woman.

Andrew from Azuni

 We were lucky enough to get an insight into the fashion industry as Azuni told us their mind-opening opinion on the development of retail and the fashion industry. As well as telling us the background to their beautiful pieces sourced from natures finest crystals and precious stones.

Japanese designers at Harajuku Freak

 Harajuku freak includes 6 Japanese brands which feature innovative and interesting garments that have a powerful edge. The concept behind the company is to stock limited and rare clothing by avant-garde designers. Garments included daring materials and complex pattern cutting.

Drinking Chambord Royale cocktails in front of the Elizabeth Arden stand

 A complimentary raspberry inspired cocktail was given out to the first lucky 150 people, whilst in The Tent, shoppers had makeovers in relation to A/W '10 trends by sponsors Toni&Guy and Elizabeth Arden.

The Catwalk Report

 We'll be reporting the about the influential designers who exhibited their collections, and latest array of AW '10 trends straight from the catwalk. This will also include other stylish women who were also sitting front row.

H&E xx