LFW - Day 1

 

Photo courtesy of Tom Chapman
@ Fashion156.com

I'm watching Family Guy in my hotel room at the moment. No, I haven't been slacking off; quite the contrary. The inaugural day at London Fashion Week has proven to be be quite the productive one. Although the cobbles were less cluttered than usual, the sun shone, the runways ran and the bubbles flowed. Paul Costelloe opened with his signature brio as models sugar-coated in mint, cream and candyfloss made a September day feel like spring. Costelloe's handprint was evident in cocoon coats, jacquard fabrics and buble hems with whimsical touches like back pleats and bows, exaggerated sleeves and mid-thigh skirts. Our native Dubliner made his most impressive mark with menswear - a serving of suits - oversized and unabashed in shades of teal and purple.

The Irish fashion mafia made its presence felt further at the BFC exhibition space where Galway girl Una Burke added handbags to her range of cult leather body art. Her influences this season? Mourning rituals and Egyptian burial practices. In contrast with the theme is are bouyant pops of colour and smaller entry-level pieces (think cuffs and mini waisters) that will satistfy the more bijou fashion budget. No opening day would be complete without an Orla Kiely's short film screening and models in situ. The sixties are still in full swing - this time relocating from London Town to a forest / suburban milieu.

As for the party scene, we kicked off the night at the Diesel flagship store and made our way to the Esprit Limited Edition RCA party where we made our own t-shirts, played with wool and drank good-for-you cocktails (beetroot + spinach + gin = surprisngly tasty!). The night concluded at the opening of Maria Grachvogel's Chelsea boutique - our last chin chin before beddy byes.

Good night kids.

Axx

Source: http://iblogfashion.blogspot.com/2011/09/lfw-day-1.html