Its all over and it’s back to reality! Yay for reality because as I realised last season after fashion week, I don’t quite have the disposition to be immersed in fashion 24/7. Immsersed in fashion as in clothes, yes absolutely, but all the people, politics and hoo-ha that goes with the clothes – no, or at least… not yet. But this week has been fabulous…in a really exhausting way. The daily toil of going to shows. Without trying to sound precocious, seeing shows does become like a daily grind, rushing around getting from show to show on time, the waiting around all for 15 minutes of something that could get you really excited or bore you to tears. But if it’s the former, then you know it’s all been worth it.
Seeing as my I clocked out of ‘fashion mode’ after the MAN show yesterday at around 18:15, I’ll combine day 5 (Thursday) and 6 (Friday). What is Susie’s LFW reports without a daily reportage of her health? Well Thursday was dire to say the least and I gave myself a later start by missing Nicole Farhi and going to ON/OFF at the Royal Academy instead. I actually think this venue is much more elegant than the BFC tent even though it’s bigger. It’s airy and well laid out and a lot better organised to be honest… probably one of the best Off schedules in the world…
Plus, I got to spend some quality time at the exhibition of designers like Romina Karamenea, who I raved about a while ago and is absolutely lovely in person and Yuchi, another designer Iloved and is also really charming in person. Both of their a/w07-8 collections are fabulous. I think there are different directions for both but still distinctly marked with their trademarks….. lots of lush images to come later. Both designers will also be travelling to the WHITE exhibition in Milan so lots of luck to them!
I also had my first electrifying show experience. I know its a cliche to say so with one of the most hyped shows on the schedule but Gareth Pugh did make my skin tingle a little. Even before the show started, with an hour and a half delay, there was this distinct frission of excitement in the tent and I just kept on saying ‘I can’t wait!’. Perhaps it is the fact that Pugh is only two seasons in and there was no way of telling what direction he would go in. It was funny as my friend and I were saying that Pugh would probably give us all something ultra wearable and when the show started, out came this moulded cashmere coat. The music for the show was also spot on with Matthew !WOWOW! from Boombox doing the mixing.
Shows seen: Tata Naka (quite refined but still very playful collection from these sweet Russian girls), Antoni & Alison (the oddest show setting ever….clothes not really to my taste…), Gardem (ack….beautiful…. so so so pretty), Gareth Pugh (see above – can’t say anything other than it was electric). Missed Nicole Farhi, Betty Jackson and Nathan Jenden even though I had invites…… goddamn illness.
Wearing: Preen grey jersey hoodie, Topshop Unique pink metallic dress, dark grey tights, Miu Miu pink shoes, Muji clear rainmac that I cut short, black puffa jacket. I still maintain these are my most comfortable heels. Marni and Miu Miu heels are the only ones which don’t completely destroy my feet by the end of the day
I’m rather obsessed with the shoes Tata Naka did for their show…it is a proper shoe-session…
I’m also going to make it my mission to nab some of this stuff from their new collection….its just ultra girly stuff…
If you’ve got them flaunt em….denim shorts over tights seem to look so cute on petite girls.
The Antoni & Alison was held in a 15th century pub…. the theme of the show was ‘Get Drunk’ and models came out swigging glasses of wine and one even came out munching from a packet of Walkers Cheese & Onion crisps… models eating on a catwalk is a first I think // This was when the Gareth Pugh show was just about to start and light came shining out with the black polythene fringe blowing out…. I’m telling you, I felt goosebumps!
Another thing about the Pugh show was the attendees were waaay more adventurous and crazy-cool than at any other show. I’m loving the print on this jacket // A model practising her walk for the Avsh Alom Gur show….. she looked so stressed.
Moving onto Friday which was a short one really. I rushed out of the house (I even forgot to snap my outfit so here are some makeshift ones from my company toilet) because I was already hideously late for the CSM show and I was BUMMED that I missed it but it was packed to the rafters with lots of coolhunters trying to spot the next new Galliano/McQueen etc so I would have had a hard time getting in anyway. Looking at the pictures though, this year was a good one, much better than last year’s me thinks…. despite the Kane breakthrough.
A show that of course I did NOT get an invite to was Marc by Marc Jacobs where tickets were like the fashion equivalent of high-value shares (hey…even vogue.com had to queue for standing tickets!). However, I was a little sick of the anticipation for it. From the way some people had been talking about the show, you’d think it was like the return of McQueen or something (now THAT would be magnifique…). I’m just overall annoyed that all the hype was building up and they were calling Jacobs the saviour of this season’s LFW when there is so much talent and variety in all the designers that showed here. I have nothing against Marc by Marc Jacobs – it is wearable, cute and perfectly fine for our daily wardrobes but seeing the pics, its nothing to shout about and I’m not convinced it was the way to end LFW. So in my head, I’ll just pretend the show was in NYC because the only thing remotely ‘London’ about it was the tiny venue in Claridges hotel.
I also got eclipsed by my scarf today. I was literally stopped every 5 minutes by someone interrogating me about it. I was surprised everyone was asking where it came from since the Benetton campaign featuring the scarf was quite prominent in mags…and they were very much aghast when I said it was from Benetton as they exclaimed ‘Benetton??" with the same disdain as if it were from The Gap. It also got a lot of ‘Hmm…very Giles!’ comments since the night before was the Giles Deacon show where he had these huge, chunky knits. Come to think of it, when I had my scarf all wrapped around my neck, there was a smidge of resemblance. Gosh, people are already thinking about next season?!
Shows watched: Unconditional (patchy in places but good in others), Ashish (sequin bows and lots of them), Bora Aksu (ack…stunning stunning….), Gavin Douglas (very 40’s, very Land Girls), MAN (one of the SLICKEST shows of the week…really well put together…and I want to wear some of Siv Stoldal’s stuff…) Missed CSM MA show (I’m a lazy ill bum…), Jens Laugesen (big mistake since it was reportedly BEAUTIFUL!)
Wearing: Vintage tweed jacket, red satin shirt, Jens Laugesen navy trousers, Sophia Kokosalaki white pleated skirt, navy elasticated belt, Azona grey suede platforms, Benetton red chain scarf
Didn’t see much plaid considering it was supposed to be an a/w06 trend but this girl got it so right with her plaid batwing cape over a black taffeta dress… I loved her hair bow too // My friend Zena’s ¬£80 Prada shoes which she got on sale and some cheap socks. We both come from the school of not trying to look too lux because after all…we’re still in the bottom of the fashion heap.
I love the grey knitted addition to the cream coat // This stripy coat is also cool too. Why does everyone have such great coats? I should really invest in some STATEMENT coats too though my vintage Balenciaga one sort of qualifies…
These Izima Kaoru photos of Erin O’Connor wearing Vivienne Westwood are really stunning.
No, I haven’t mis-inserted an image. This was at Heaven nightclub where the Ashish and Unconditional show was being held. I didn’t dig the venue because I used to party at Heaven and it had some bad connontations for me. I think a few of the sniffy editors were a little shocked at the pre-show entertainment…. // White tights the way they should be worn….with a cricket jumper!
I have to say, I really like both of your outfits, especially the transparent raincoat, and I think I’m going to have to try and knit myself a chain-scarf, it looks so cool.
People said your scarf was very Giles because his spring/summer 07 show was full of material with chain patterns. It was a major theme at that show.
How you feel towards Marc by MJ is exactly how I feel towards gareth pugh. Bah, i wish people would get over him already.
omg. I want those highwasted shorts! who made them!!!??
Are you all crazy? She’s a fat and ugly nobody. NOBODY. your outfits are like the homeless on the streets of london, and I am only looking because I happened upon it by chance.
You will never see me here again. This is the most mundane,inconsequential blog I’ve ever stumbled upon.
I work for Vogue and it is my job to look around on blogs but this is a pure waste of my time.
whats with the last posters problem? jeez louise.
start your on blogger hateradin’ somewhere else. What with all the neg-a-tron posters lately? I guess it comes with the territory of having more traffic coming to ones blog. BUT GEEZ!
Susie bubble rules!
susie, i love your posts on fashion week and how detailed they are.
I adore your Miu Miu platforms.
Jennifer my dear, if you do work at Vogue then I suspect you are THE CLEANER at best, because if it was your job to hunt around for blogs, then you have just shown such deeply unprofessional behaviour by calling someone “fat and ugly”, especially in view of magazines like Vogue being central to the weight debate. If you did work at Vogue then you are completely incompetent, if you were my employee, I’d fire you immediately. Lucky for you, you are just living in an imaginary world and you probably work at Burger King, and are just consumed by jealousy at Susie’s success. You are idiot, we are glad you won’t be back.
Its great how detailed your posts are, and I always love your outfits. You should get paid to do this.
um, wowza- Jennifer really needs to chill. There is really NO reason for that kind of nastiness. If you dislike the blog, positive criticism probably would have been much more welcome than downright viciousness. And attacking Susie?? That is really really low.
Susie- your blog is the ONLY fashion blog that I read, because you are one of the most down-to-earth and creative people that have ever blogged. Period.
Gosh what’s up with that Jennifer girl? That kind of hating is just miserable. Anyway, I thought I supressed my desire for the chain scarves until I saw them making a reappearance on your blog…and promptly ordered not 1 but 2 immediatly (they still have them in Japan 🙂 Can’t wait to receive them!
great outfits you wore.
also i enjoyed reading your coverage.
By the way, I’m linking to your blog on my recent post. You can’t read it, since it’s in norwegian, but it says that you were very lucky to be attending the Pugh show, and that you are a talented blogger.
I’ve been looking at your blog for awhile now, but this is the first time I’ve commented. I adore how detailed you are in your posts, and you have great style!
I hope that posts like those from “Jennifer” don’t really upset you!? Please keep posting I love your blog and many many others do…
Wow, those high-waisted black shorts were incredible!!!
Susie you ARE amazing. I’ve been in the fashion world for years and I wish we’d known about you sooner ! WE’ll all be back for more !
Whoa. I came here meaning to compliment Susie on the pink outfit (pink dress and shoes without girly tweeness- how awesome is that?)I mean, honestly, what is that woman’s problem? DJM’s probably right, though we shouldn’t rag on the cleaners, she’s just immature and mean and that is all there is to it.
Susie dear, don’t take any of this seriously or let yourself get upset by it. It isn’t pretty being called names, but there are a LOT of people out there who think the world of what you’re doing on your blog, and I will never cease to be amazed by the fact that you seem to balance your media job and the site so well.
PS. The mixing of the dress and shoes (yours) was pure genius. And that red chain scarf and satin shirt are the coolest.
Oi and besides, how on earth would Jennifer know what London’s homeless look like? Her email seems to indicate Aussieness and the last line is just overkill. Bah.
White tights and cricket jumper??? Do Prince Charles wear them this way???
To Jennifer who quite rudely and inaccurately posted a comment stating “this is the most mundane,inconsequential blog I’ve ever stumbled upon.”
You should check ours out. (It’s shit)
Susie Bubble rules!
http//:www.myspace.com/lobsterquadrille
I was at the Unconditional and Ashish show at LFW and found the pre-entertainment a bit ‘been there, done that’. Were Concrete PR trying to be shocking? Well I think they managed that with the ‘them and us’ divide that they created when they bellowed out to a couple of hundred attendees that only those with two stars on their invite could enter the venue first. Leaving the rest of us to feel like complete shits. Duh? What is that about?
I was at the Unconditional and Ashish show at LFW and found the pre-entertainment a bit ‘been there, done that’. Were Concrete PR trying to be shocking? Well I think they managed that with the ‘them and us’ divide that they created when they bellowed out to a couple of hundred attendees that only those with two stars on their invite could enter the venue first. Leaving the rest of us to feel like complete shits. Duh? What is that about?
hi susie!
it’s amazing how people will be so rude & crude while judging someone to be less than them? and then attach “i work in the fashion industry” or “i work for vogue”. they actually have to tell you this, because their words have no eloquence, no telltale signs of coming from a better brain or more sophisticated world.
so i’m here to love some more of your info. those shoes! those 1st 2 pairs of Tata Naka shoes are so perfect for me! and i love the jean shorts too!
bye for now 🙂
why do you alway stand so wonky on your photos? your outfits are wonderful but your posture is destroying it kind of
It is the short short mirror unfortunately…a bit of a struggle getting the whole body in shot! I will invest in a better mirror soon…!
you should work on posture. you’re poses make you look like you don’t have a neck. no offense.