LONDON FASHION WEEK SEPTEMBER 2013

Held twice annually in February (Autumn/Winter shows) and September (Spring/Summer), London Fashion Week is one of the big four fashion weeks alongside New York, Paris and Milan. The event which turns 30 next year is organised by the British Fashion Council and plays a major part of the reported £21 billion the UK fashion industry is worth. Fashion itself is Britain’s second biggest employer and the largest of all creative industries, responsible for over 800,000 jobs.

During LFW there are approximately 60 on schedule catwalk shows and below I've put together the best looks from some of my favourite collections which have recently graced the runway.

Sicilian Adventure Inspiration//Luxurious Fabrications- Jacquard and Tulle //Detailed Textures//Sculptural Shapes//Block Colourways- Fuchsia and Magenta//Traditional Gowns//Floral//Laser Cuts

1970s and Art Deco Influence//Opulence//Colourways- Coral, Denim Blue and Lavender Hues//Intricate Patterns//Fabrication Contrasts//Digital Print//Rendered Cut Outs

Pastel Colourway//Fabrication- Lace, Satin, Waterproof Transparent//Polka Dot and Striped Patterning//Floral and Ruffled Embellished Accessories//Straight Cuts//Loose Bodice Shapings//A Gorgeous Finale!!

Inspired By Art Deco, Miami and Architectural Interiors//Bursts Of Acid Colours, Sugary Pastels and Whites//Printed Florals//Tailored Trousers and Abstract Cut Cocktail Dresses//Fabrication- Organza, Chiffon, Silk, Foil, Rubber

Inspired By 'A Trip To Mexico City'//Ode To Romeo + Juliet '96//Fabrication- Denim, Lace Layering, Metallic Silks//Florals, Checks and Leopard Prints//Mini Dresses//Trenches//Two Pieces

Inspired By Kaleidoscopic Prints and A 'Youthful Girl's Bedroom'//An 'Explosion' Of Floral Colour Bursts//Over-Layering Of Patchwork Imagery//Contemporary Presentation Show//Silk Fabrications//Key Looks- Skater Skirts, Bomber Jackets, Cigarette Cropped Trousers

Simplistic Elegance//Mismatched Prints//Clean White and Navy Colourway With Bursts Of Candy Yellow//Intricate Beading and Applique Blooms//Re-Invention Of The 'New Look'//Ancient Tuscan Printed Catwalk Set

There were many more highlights across the whole week supporting emerging and established designers. Continuing its height as the global fashion capital, London is certainly pushing the boundaries in opportunity through branding and marketing. Innovative means of showcasing collections this year are evident from Burberry's collaboration with Apple and the iPhone 5s to Henry Holland taking to the UK roads with a clothing retail ice cream van, selling exclusive items. 

It definitely seems that London are shaping up for us to have our slice of fashion week more readily available. Burberry are a key example to the future of fashion not just in London but globally. 14 iPhone 5s' captured the SS14 collection, live streaming the action to millions globally in just minutes. Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest- you name it, it's covered.

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NYFW- Victoria Beckham SS14

New York Fashion Week is in full swing but after London took over as fashion capital, there's only 1 week I'm waiting for. Primarily not because I'm biased towards my own hometurf designers but because I believe that London has some of the best contemporary talent showing across September. Nevertheless, New York always manage to put on a show from the 'big guns' like DKNY, Diane Von Furstenberg and Zac Posen, amongst others.

One 'designer' (as always argued), that many are surprised to see at NYFW perhaps instead of LFW is original Spice Girl Victoria Beckham, who for the record was my least favourite member but kudos to her for that little black dress I probably tried to recreate several times with a black bin liner! Many of us know that VB is famed for her frocks but all eyes were not only just on the FROW where Harper stole the show, but also to the more casual inspired collection that was shown on Sunday at Cafe Rouge. 

Proving that a trend can be recycled twice in a year, Beckham took inspiration from the sports luxe style in which current AW13 monochromatics were present with an injection of Spring/Summer pink tones. After cooing over Harper, I got the impression from VB's past collections that this was going to be a pristine catwalk show with clothes designed to suit the professional women. As the first looks stepped onto the lacquered white floored runway, it was evident as the show went on that the use of geometric panelling and cut in predominant areas of garments were the stand out looks of the show. The bursts of fuchsia and reds in these outfits were probably the most interesting parts of the show for me.

Victoria has been seen somewhat as a style icon for the best part of 2 decades but between wearing and designing, they are 2 very different things and giving a proper critical review of her as a designer can be difficult for many to judge, based on where her fashion origin has derived from. I do however admire the fact that she knows how to build and develop a brand, sticking by her team and following after criticism and appreciating what women want to wear. Maybe I will grow to appreciate the balance she inputs between both her personal life and business work ethic. I guess time will also tell as to where the label will go in the future but overall this is a solid collection that showcases contemporary British tailoring and production, with the potential to grow in surface and pattern design.