Celebrating its 27th Fashion week, London was host to some of the biggest names in fashion showcasing their newly-anticipated collections to the glamorous-packed, fashion-conscious audience. An audience that included fashion editors, writers, celebrities, buyers, T.V and radio crews from all over the world. London Fashion week is an international tribute to one of the most important and widespread creative industries in the UK and pays homage to a diverse range of both talented emerging designers and iconic designers such as Christopher Kane, Vivienne Westwood and Mulberry to name a few.

Christopher Kane
The talented Scotsman Christopher Kane left the front row of his London Fashion week audience in awe as he showcased his new collection to the likes of American Vogue’s editor-in chief, Anna Wintour and Samantha Cameron from Downing Street. Christopher Kane who previously worked alongside Giles Deacon and Russell Sage before starting his own collection has said that he wouldn’t like to be known for a trademark piece or collection but if he was, it would probably be for his Spring/Summer 2011 neon collection which he showcased at LFW. Neon aside, Kane is renowned for his mixing of textures, including dresses made up entirely of different panelled fabrics and spectacular embellishment on velvet garments.

Amanda Wakeley
The English born designer, whose signature day dressing style is luxe sportif and evening style is contemporary glamour, was a massive hit at LFW sending models down the runway in dresses that were fit for the red carpet. Colour was a massive theme in the Wakeley show, starting with nude, natural colours like mocha brown that later flowed into coral pink, cobalt blue and back to more earthly tones like ivy green. Dresses that were simple in structure and style were teamed with oversized gold plated necklaces and large cuffs to emphasise the garments, alongside dresses that needed no accessories because they spoke for themselves.

Nicole Farhi
Nicole Farhi moved from Paris, where she studied design, to London in the seventies and since then has never looked back. Trademark pieces of Farhi’s collection include her wrap coats and
cardigans which are best sellers every season. LFW 2011 was an opportunity for Nicole to enter the “wild” side of fashion, to which she most certainly did. Her London Fashion week collection was one of her most daring collections in a while and certainly had people talking. The designer had clearly been inspired by latex as her collection featured lots of it. Daring latex dresses and body conscious, tight fitting skirts were accompanied by see through tops, all creating a very “futuristic” feel to the inspiring and eagerly awaited collection.

Basso and Brooke
Bruno Basso and Christopher Brooke are the two masterminds behind the brilliantly innovative label Basso and Brooke who divulge in the playful and individuality of women in their collections. Said to be inspired by Dichotomy, birds and walls, their collection paid respect to nature, using autumnal colours that truly evoked its beauty. Both models and the clothing could only be described as bold and beautiful. Long hair and dark eyebrows were contrasted by pillar box red lashes, and short sleeved t shirts were contrasted with long floor length and high waisted skirts. Leaving the Bruno and Basso show left you with the distinct feeling that the duo had succeeded in pioneering digital prints into fashion.

Erdem
Erdem Moralioglu, winner of a British fashion council award and who originated from Canada, is a firm favourite with the two “first ladies” Michelle Obama and Samantha Cameron due to his eloquent and beautiful use of florals. Once named the “King of florals” Erdem stepped away from his floral forte into digital prints this season, an inspiration he says he got from watching a film based on Jackson Pollock. This inspiration provoked Erdem’s catwalk to showcase delicate tweeds combined with digital abstract splashes covered with lace. Other materials applied in his 2011 collection were sequins and crystals that gave off the appearance of stars. Even without some of Erdem’s collection looking like stars glistening in the sky the audience itself was packed with stars and it seems fair enough to say that his show was a “star” studded event.

Mulberry
Emma Hill the creative director of Mulberry was born in London yet made in New York, and frequently resorts back to her English love to inspire her collections. Said to be inspired by the English countryside, English wildlife and Turner landscapes, her collection shows the Mulberry woman heading to the countryside. Claridge’s hotel in London was the location for this show-stopping collection where the ballroom and the lobby was transformed into a rural backdrop fitted with stuffed foxes on the ground and silk birds perched high above the audience. The models burst down the catwalk to a soundtrack of shooting, owls hooting and dressed in floor length maxi’s, hooded anoraks, and furry scarves teamed with shirt dresses all providing the glamorous audience with a contemporary British feel.

Burberry Prorsum
Chief creative officer of Burberry is the incredibly talented Christopher Bailey who is recognized for his outstanding achievements to Burberry since becoming their creative director in 2001. The Burberry event was one of the most anticipated and talked about events of London Fashion week attracting countless members of the fashion elite into its audience. Located in a marquee in London’s Kensington gardens the event did not disappoint the fashion savvy crowd who witnessed simulated snow fall onto the runway for the grand finale. Supermodel Jourdan Dunn, the new face of Burberry walked the catwalk in coats tipped to be a huge hit next winter. Animal prints and fur were amongst the materials used on the catwalks and it is clear to everyone who is a Burberry fan that they have come miles from the days of their classic demure trench coat which helped them to the success they have acquired today.

Vivienne Westwood
“Fashion is alive when it is being worn and talked about” is a saying Vivienne Westwood lives by and it is certainly true when it comes to her collection “Vivienne Westwood- Red label”. Vivienne is a woman who is regularly talked about and her clothes are a collection that are regularly worn and sought after. Vivienne can pretty much do what she wants when it comes to fashion as everything she creates is stunning, it works and it sets trends. Presenting her collection at the Royal Court of Justice was a perfect place to show her rebellious clothing and collection because it juxtaposed the magnificent, grand location of the Royal Court of Justice, London. Vivienne’s collection, like Mulberry, had a very British feel to it with its use of her trademark tartan material and woollen pieces structured to her signature asymmetric cut. Hair was shaped into crowns again giving a royal British feel, and trends to look out for from her collection are opposing, clashing prints, statement outerwear
and the idea of heritage.

Felder
The masterminds behind cult fashion label FELDER FELDER are identical twins Annette and Daniela Felder. Born in Germany and schooled in the prestigious Central St Martins, London, the twins and their label FELDER FELDER continue to grasp the attention and appreciation of both the media and celebrities, boasting an impressive fan base of which include Rihanna, Florence and the Machine and Gwyneth Paltrow to name a few. Perfectly capturing and reinvigorating gothic and nineties inspired grunge the talented duo are famous for their trademark colour black and their structured, leather, studded pieces. Having experimented with colour in the past, LFW 2011 saw FELDER FELDER stick to the darkness and inject fashion week with all things rock and roll grunge. Against the assortment of ink blue, deathly black and dark green backdrop and alongside techno music the FELDER FELDER models burst down the catwalk in pieces that would get the nod of approval by Gaga herself. Each piece captured not only one rising trend but countless. Take their skinnies for example, not only were they high waisted but also leather AND metallic, now that is what we call a hat-trick in the fashion world. Their catwalk also displayed painfully tight yet beautifully embellished bodices, shoulder pads draped in goat’s hair and floaty dresses teamed with studded belts to give off a harsher affect. The beauty behind FELDER FEDER is that twins Daniela and Annette are incredibly skilled in producing pieces and collections that capture the beauty and aesthetics of a woman and juxtapose this with an urban rock and roll edge. They combine beautiful floaty maxi dresses and structured soft layers with studs and leather to add a masculine edge. The same can be said for the aesthetics used in their LFW 2011 catwalk. The models at the FELDER FELDER show were of course all enviously beautiful and yet the style of how they were prepped and primed contrasts this greatly adding the harsher grunge affect. Styled by Toni and Guy, the hair was pulled back into a variety of buns, some plain, others woven in tiny plaits reminiscent some might say to that of a ballerina, and yet the painting on their faces screamed black swan rather than innocent ballerina. Make up at the FELDER FELDER show was feminine yet fierce with dark midnight blue or emerald lips and dramatic black-cat eyeliner and flicks showing a hard edged, wild side to the catwalk collection. Daniela and Annette described the typical FELDER FELDER woman to be young at heart and a little wild which is certainly spot on when discussing their LFW 2011 collection.

Matthew Williamson
Geometric patterns in Russian inspired hues formed the basis of Matthew Williamson’s A/W 11 collection. Leather, chiffon and fur made an appearance down the catwalk with stand out pieces including quilted biker jackets in neutral greys and beiges, a very typical Matthew Williamson maxi dress in bright, clashing orange and pink triangular print and an array of knitted dresses and separates with bold geometric patterns in greys, blues and the odd flash of red. With sheer shirts and sharp blazers thrown into the mix, Williamson has created an entirely wearable collection.

Body Amr
Body Amr have created stunning evening outfits for this A/W. The collection featured figure-hugging dresses in shades of champagne and chocolate, sophisticated black cutout gowns and clingy separates in gold, silver and crimson fabrics with a foil-like feel. A black quilted, jewelled jacket teamed with a floor length black chiffon gown had a strong gothic vibe to it. In contrast, a light grey long dress with a heavily beaded gold bodice, worn with a matching grey scarf casually thrown around the model’s neck was the epitome of elegance, showing designer Amr Ali’s versatility.