Who's showing today?
LFW Schedule: Paul Costelloe, Jean-Pierre Braganza, Caroline Charles, Biba, Ben de Lisi, Modernist, Osman Yousefzada, Jaegar London, Ann-Sofie Back.
Off Schedule: Topshop Unique
What do we expect? With Paul Costelloe, fashion week opens with a long-established name in British fashion (and an admirer of our Kim). Expect classic styling, easy to wear pieces and lots of chic tailoring. Also on the classic end are Caroline Charles (think slack, beaded jackets and silk shell tops), Ben de Lisi (gorgeous eveningwear) and - new to LFW - Jaeger. These old faithful labels will help to ease us into the madness gently. That said, there are plenty of younger, funkier labels on offer too...
Off Schedule, the Topshop Unique show always draws a big crowd, as does Ann-Sofie Back, a designer who's created some amazing capsule collections for the high street and Oli.co.uk this year. Both labels will doubtless bring us beautifully structured pieces, inventive use of colour and great LBDs. Jean Pierre Braganza will also no doubt deliver something sharp, modern and unforgettable.
The relaunched Biba is also a label to watch. Will this be another season of sixties influences and Laura Ashley style florals, or will an injection of modern sensibility save it from being a flash-in-the-pan revival? There's been a lot of talk as to whether bringing back a label that used to be affordable as a pricey, high fashion brand would work. Despite loving all things 60s, I'm still not sure. But perhaps that's purely because I can't afford the shoes!
[images: previews collections by Jean Pierre Branganza, Biba and Ben de Lisi]
