London Fashion Week SS13- Catwalk Shows Part 2

And so the journey does indeed continue on my short yet crazy first-ever London Fashion Week adventure. Subsequent then to myself being colourfully and aesthetically memorised by the diverse and innovative creations in the The Swedish School of Textiles and the Nova Chiu shows, it was then a mad buckled shoed dash to Somerset House to see what else I could get my sorry ass into. Like I already aforementioned, generally speaking I only had one official invite to a show, compliments of a fashion website I contribute to. Therefore you can image my heighten excitement and overpowering joy of actually mincing my way into two more shows in Courtyard Show Space. I felt like some evil anti fashion Christ was going to decent onto the Stand , point at me with a giant menacing finger and declare to the stylish crowd: "HALT GEMMA, YOU DO NOT BELONGTH HERE. GO BACKTH TO THE HIGH STREET-TH." But hey, good job I'm not religious because nothing of the biblical kind occurred, as you can see. So the first celebratory "miracle" shall we say was the wonderful wonderful wonderful Ashish show. 

But before I go into mechanics I have a wee confession to make. I did actually get into the Courtyard Show Space, there is no denying that. However because I didn't have a ticket and because the show was so over subscribed, I didn't get to have my catwalk cake and eat it. Oh no. Like a person with an allergic reaction cake I had to be given an alternative. For all us fashion rebels who queued " we were escorted to a cinema room to watch the show instead, a room I aptly named the foreboding"The Cinema Of Rejection." Still it was better than waiting in the cold outside and being rejected like a smelly homeless person. And at least I didn't have to crane my neck too much to gaze at the fab-u-larrrrs Ashish pieces. 

And Ashish certainly did deliver. 

Here then are some pictures I managed to get from la casa a la rejection. Apologies if they aren't as clear as you would desire them to be. Obviously the bouncers thought it was funny to fit about 3523597 of us in the room like rejected sardines. 

In all honesty I wasn't too familiar or knowledgeable with the brand beforehand but I have to say...after seeing about 3 of their outfits on the catwalk my whole uncanny unfamiliarity with the brand changed instantaneously. I saw myself coveting these designs if I had oodles of cash and a good income. I could imagine myself being an Ashish girl. And why is that I hear so many of you cry out in disbelief? Well...this SS13 the designer is undeniably retro eek chic. Scrunchies, messy buns, denim garments, backless dresses, Reebok classics mixed with cute endearing ankle socks and did I mention sequins? Because boy oh boy, there was a sequin tsunami in this show. A beautifully shining and dazzling sequin tsunami that is.

And these words of Bianca London pretty much summarised the sheer contemporary coolness of the collection: "The London-based designer sent out models that emulated an archetypal math geek, more concerned with quadratic equations than the number of ply in a cashmere sweater." 
Amen sister...amen.

LOVE LOVE LOVE THIS SHOULDER DRESS. 

No words. I want. 

The Delhi-born designer incorporated sequins into each and every outfit. Totally like a boss. Be it a full length glittering sequin gown or a subtle silver sequin sock- his love of Hollywood glitz and glamour was prevalent throughout. And Wonky shirts, half-denim half-leather shorts and metallic pink lips were out in force as mix and match was the order of the day. So yeah...I'd like a 3 course meal of Ashish SS13 please. Quick as you can. Ta. 

After Ashish then I was then disastrously five minutes late to the Jena Theo salon show in which the evil PR woman with no soul or moral compass denied me access to. I was saddened and angry at this women's snottiness and the fact she was just trying to do her job. Maybe it was my own fault being a mere five minutes late. Maybe being five minutes late does mean sometimes it is the end of the world...therefore I needed some sort of fashion redemption. So queue a hour later where by some mystical and cosmological miracle I find myself sitting far back in the rows for the Aminaka Wilmont show and NOT in "The Cinema of Rejection" this time! Actually sitting in the rows, breathing the congested air and within a stones throw away from the FROW. I was a lucky egg. There was nothing for it then other than to strike up the band, dim the lights and get the music pumping. 

Ah Aminaka Wilmont. Her SS13 collection was nothing but impressively BOLD. I was immersed by the many structural shapes and silhouettes dominating the catwalk. The darker half of the collection is made up of stripy patterns clashed with clean, crisp white garments and makes a fierce stand down the catwalk and progresses into a sensual, sexy look with attitude. And I was feeling very much so the quirky haircuts of the models. Very Rooney Mara in The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo, es non? My only complaint is I wish I could have secured a better seat. Oh next season then if I attend I must remember to take some deadly pepper spray so I can knock out each row unconscious...one...by...one. Then eventually I'll be able to get to the FROW and sit next to my bestie Kate Nash. Fashion disciples forever man. 

So after that I was going to catch Fashion Fringe but I needed to get my train home back to the tumbleweed north. Kicking myself now I was only able to attend the one day but with any luck next season (as long as uni doesn't coincide...those exams aren't going to sit themselves you know!) I'll be able to do much more coverage. And coverage perhaps on a daily account too. And more street style! I was a bit of a rookie at it this year and only got a few REALLY impressive outfits. You know clothes I would WANT to wear. Practicality and all that. I did snap outfits but most were just extravagant outfits, of people seeking attention per se. So I think next time I'll choose my outfits more carefully and practically. Then I'll do a more inspiring and authentically styled street style post. Not just pictures of people dressing up for over-the-top-look-at-me-attention.

The next London Fashion Week then is in February. Ah so near yet so far. Bring it on AW13. Your clothes are my favourite thing in fashion and three quarters of my wardrobe encapsulates your quintessential dreary colours, layering aura and party time winter glamour. Yes, I expect only the best. 

GS x