London fashion week AW 14/15 PART 1.

I’ve just returned from my trip to LFW and will be sharing this season’s experiences with you in diary style posts. I have decided to present our adventures in 3 parts to keep them short, sweet and interesting.

The night before we left was stormy and there was a brief moment when it seemed like we weren’t going to be able to make it down, but by the morning trains were running again and we arrived in London with just 20 minutes behind schedule.

Our first stop was Lucinda Sinclair’s studio where the Vauhaus girls shot for Sanctus on a windy roof top.

bts1Left to right: Amber, myself, Lucinda, Toria and Hazel.

I shot for one of their previous lines about a year ago and you can see the shoot here but it was nice to get the opportunity to meet Lucinda in person and hang out.

The next morning we headed to our first show all together. It was raining. I found myself wishing I’d brought a selection of outerwear so my street-style photos didn’t all end up looking the same but alas, my suitcase was heavy enough already.

My outfit:

wall1wall3wall2Hat: Asos, Shirt: H&M, lace blazer: Ebay, pleated maxi skirt: Jane Norman, quartz necklace: handmade, feather necklace: Richard Ayres, body jewellery: Bodyjewelleryshop.com

Thanks to Amber for the pics.

Our first show of the season was Jaime Wei Huang. The young designer presented a modern collection with many contrasting elements but a sleek, consistent feel. She was inspired by the film “the Pianist” and specifically the characters behind the refugees.

jaime wei huangOpposites really inspire me in general so I’m always happy to see a collection with juxtaposing features. Huang mixed heavy and light fabrics, utilitarian features with classic silhouettes and masculine shapes on the female form.

The mood of the show was quite sombre and the models walked quietly and spaced out, allowing viewers to take a good look at the garments but maybe also the character beneath, perhaps a glimmer of theĀ of the refugee’s pre-war identity .

Key features such as the trapper hats, oversized funnel collars and thick buckled straps recreate the resourcefulness of war and show how necessity can form fashion statements.

P1010186-1024x902A lot of the pieces in this collection are highly wearable and would make practical but eye-catching wardrobe staples. My personal favourites are the textured leather gillette and the black jacket.

After the show, I also got the chance to briefly meet Pandemonia Panacea and snowy.

1780799_589915891085833_1269690304_nHere’s the whole team and what we wore.

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Shooting for Sanctus

I met designer Lucinda Sinclair at clothes show a couple of winters ago and admired her rather cool top. She has since gone on to launch a cult inspired street-wear label called Sanctus.

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A few weeks ago I had the privilege of doing a shoot in some items from the Illuminex collection. Most of them aren’t available any more but feel free to check out the SS13 line, Adramelech.

I also got a change to try out the 5 strand braid I was obsessed with at the time.

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I shot with photographer Nina pang and styled with a variety of interested items I already had, including some pieces from my own label, Eustratia, Richard Ayres and Carly petitt Taylor.

Nina also brought a polaroid camera with her, I think they take great shots.

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Here are the final images:

IMG_3058IMG_3051IMG_3132IMG_3140IMG_3194IMG_3200IMG_3218IMG_3225IMG_3230IMG_3261IMG_3269I really enjoyed wearing these and ended up buying the Cuculatus dress in the end of line sale. It is very comfortable and flattering.

IMG_0182I prefer shopping from independent designers where I can get a unique, quality item, made ethically and with love. I think it would add freshness and challenge the industry if everyone didn’t rely on the same 5 stores for their wardrobe.

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