London Fashion Week SS08 Day 2

I’m now convinced that there are more photographers at London Fashion Week taking pictures of what show-goers are wearing than of the actual clothes being shown on the catwalks which is no bad thing in this age of ‘Thumbs up for street style pics’ but it is a bit ludicrous when a street style photographer stands in front of Anna Wintour, not to take snaps of her, but actually to take a picture of me, as I was two steps behind Ms. Wintour going into the Gareth Pugh show.  I was sort gawping at Ms. Wintour in a dorky fashion whilst having an American streetstyle photographer (wearing the coolest PVC top I’ve seen ever…) saying to me ‘Hey can I take a picture of you?  You look amazing!’.  Erm….what?. 

As some of you have pointed out, the lovely Yvan from Facehunter has snapped me once again with a beautiful late summer backdrop of Bloomsbury Square (I’m so glad that there’s that bit of green to escape to before and after the shows held at the Topshop New Gen venue…) and it seems he and many other sites from all over the world are all out in force at London Fashion Week.  Gretchen, the stylist I snapped on Saturday, pointed out how uncomfortable I look when I’m getting my picture taken and it is a little bizarro that despite the number of pictures I post of myself here, as soon as I see a camera pointing at me, I do tend to freeze up.  I’m glad Yvan has captured some semblance of relaxation in my face though.  Good circumstances to take a Susie Snap…. the sun was shining, the leaves are just turning brown and dapper fashion folk are strolling about the square…what’s not to like?

Shows seen: Louise Goldin, Danielle Scutt, Amanda Wakeley (putty, grey and more grey…. lovely leather jackets though!), Peter Jensen, Gareth Pugh.
Though day 2 of LFW was supposed to be a packed affair, through sheer exhaustion, I couldn’t make it out to the PPQ show at 9 in the morning but I suppose it did look like I missed a ‘star’ turn on the catwalk with Peaches Geldof closing the show in a white tutu…  some Luella-esque 80’s prom dress moments there, but it’s still very fun.

Wearing: The eBay-ed Balenciaga jacket, the pleated skirt with the metallic blue hood which I made and then constructed into a front draping with a charity shop belt, American Apparel blue stirrup tights, in the picture I’m wearing flats (have to travel in comfort!) but come shows, I wore some olive Buddhahood ankle boots as seen in the Facehunter pic.  I’m also carrying a blue patent bag with gold chain straps that some people thought was the ‘latest Chanel’…um…try $1 eBay find…  gosh, it’s gonna be so boring if I just tell everyone that all my clothes are from eBay.

Ths Topshop Venue this year, as I said is in Bloomsbury and though Victoria House itself is MA-ssive, Topshop have only got the lower level basement spaces and so it still is a little bit of a health hazard as you descend down the stairs to be seated.  The reception bit is very cool though…

Prints ahoy.  I loved this woman’s Eley Kishimoto dress and the way her flesh tights were slouched to the optimum level.  I also bumped into Leanne, who I met in Texas and is over here as she has just finished her internship with Anne Valerie Hash in Paris.  Liking the dress with the biker boots! 

I had to thank Louise Goldin for showing the juiciest (but not loud) mix of colours in her SS08 collection.  The fine knitting techniques combined with lighter materials means that knitwear is completely viable in the summer and it makes me think of early 20th century swimwear which was made out of wool.  I’m eager to frolick about on the beach eating Fab lollies wearing this…

Danielle’s Scutt’s show was straight after Goldin’s and it was pretty ‘ROOOAAAR’ stuff…. pun intended with ‘Raw’?  Perhaps as it’s less about ‘Margareth Thatcher’-chic which Scutt is known for and more about someone more aggressive, referencing primal creatures and Roman gladiators.  The animal prints are surprisingly working for me and I love the structure of the criss cross lattice straps…. all the better to tuck the flesh in.

The show music was fun fun fun too…. I can’t help doing some ‘seat dancing’ when M.I.A. comes on…. dangerously infectious…

Prada sock watch continues and yesterday, it was a different colour, but I was more transfixed as her shoes were also those unmistakable Prada curved heel shoes with a jewelled toe…. staring is such bad form.

The head embellishment game is quite far gone in London and perhaps it’s becoming a bit of a city signature style… anything from green wigs, to wired bows (I was trying to get closer to see what sort of mesh it is as I’m dying to get hold of some to play with myself…) and the crazed Madam Pompadour wig-hats (It’s Tracy Rose wearing her own creations…)

The Peter Jensen show would have been so confusing for my brain had I not had the accompanying show notes.  The collection entitled ‘Mink’ is split into five parts, each based on a character, Mink Stole has played in a John Waters movie; Taffy, Connie, Dottie, Tammy and Peggy.  Having not watched that many John Waters films apart from Pink Flamingos, it was a little hard for me to ‘get’.  But on their own, the clothes are still fun.  Jensen has also created some patent loafers in lilac, white and black for Topshop and I’m thinking they might get to ‘brogue/oxfords’ status come next spring summer.

Seeing blue… in suits, shiny, satin, coats and bag.  I guess I wasn’t the only one who was feeling the cobalt.

Other random snaps… a textured gold leather tote that I wanted to touch…. a cropped leather jacket that this girl wore superbly (still not buying into the Kate Moss for Topshop version though…. no way…)…. a rather elegant girl in a beautifully cut red wool jacket and a tasteful Louis Vuitton blue Epi leather bag was standing at the Amanda Wakeley show.  Not usually a fan of elegant-chic but she did have the ‘I am bored. Why am I standing here?’ face which heightened the outfit.

So back to the Anna Wintour incident.  I was hurried into the Gareth Pugh show as my name was on the list but I was sans invite so I felt a little nervous anyway as to where I was sitting etc. etc.  but then THAT bob was in front of me and I was like ‘Oh..deary me…’.  Fast forward to the streetstyle photographer scenario above.  Oh, and I knocked my black tote into Ms. Wintour who I thought might topple over because she is TEENSY!  Way to go…way to go… 
The turnout was stellar though with Hamish Bowles, Suzy Menkes and Anna Piaggi (an Anna I prefer vastly!) in the front row…

And what of the show?  I’m criticised here for my admiration of Gareth Pugh and I’m sure the criticism will continue after this collection.  The questions of whether he can make clothes fit for wear will be answered as Gareth Pugh has just arrived at Browns Focus (and other stores soon…) and I will be trying him on for size myself.  I am in agreement with Ms. Pernet when I say his SS08 collection is his best yet.  Less about the gimmick, and more about reaching heights of artistry and technique.  The black fringing being the main focus and rather than coming out with an apologetic watered-down collection of what he has produced previously, he has headed played up aspects of his previous work which said ‘It can be worn in reality…just for a niche crowd….’.  Nothing wrong with catering to the niche…

Now…does anybody remember the original Clothes Show? ; )