LFW Adventures: Day 1 with Holly Fulton

There are many aspects to London Fashion Week that I love- the buzz of excitement as a new collection is unveiled, the explosion of camera flashes and of course the free Vita Coco on demand. Yet, the most enthralling aspect of it all is the enigma. On the morning of my very first London Fashion Week I informed my mum that I would spend an "hour, maybe two" at Somerset House. As I tottered out of the house in my silver heels, I was blissfully unaware of the adventure that I was exposing myself to... In hindsight, I would have worn a pair of hiking boots if I had known what the day would entail! Anyway, to the despair of my anxious mother, I didn't return an hour or so later as I had promised. In fact it would be another eight hours until I got to relieve my feet from those torturous, but oh so pretty, shoes. If only my naive self knew that in those ten hours I would sit second row of the BFC Courtyard runway, come into physical contact of my favourite bloggers, photographers, stylists and even celebrities, and of course get photographed by the likes of Vogue, Teen Vogue, Glamour, and so on. Not bad for your first ever LFW.

One year on, and London Fashion Week continues to surprise me. Once again I found myself stumbling the cobbles of Somerset House in another pair of ridiculously uncomfortable heels, albeit platforms. One must be a martyr for their fashion don't you know? This year I was accompanied by the very quirky and cute Ellie, from the award winning Rose and Vintage blog; we're both vintage fanatics, and North London girls, so we have a lot in common! It was certainly more exciting having someone to accompany London Fashion Week with, especially when you're invited backstage...

Myself and Ellie (photo credit Eugene Shishkin)

As me and Ellie admired the wonders of Somerset House, like a pair of overly dressed tourists, we were approached by two girls who asked to photograph our outfits. Once chatting to the girls we mentioned our blogs which prompted them to ask if we would be interested in checking out the backstage scene of the forthcoming Holly Fulton show. Obviously we said "YES"... even though I was a little judicious as it sounded to good to be true. However, I was pleasantly surprised, in fact I was a combination of emotions between gob-smacked and starstruck. The backstage quarters were just as I had always imagined... CHAOTIC. Yet in the midsts of turmoil, hairspray and cameras, were rails of exquisite, unseen materials of pure beauty which were sealed from the pits of mobocracy in plastic protectors. I was in heaven.

Anyhow, we got the privilege to explore the secrets of backstage. This involved watching the small armies of hair stylists, make-up artists, nail technicians, stylists, dressers and organisers do their magic to the gorgeous models. Funnily enough me and Ellie bumped into Roger, the miracle worker or shall I say hairstylist, who managed our hair at a previous shoot that we had done for Beyond Retro- what a small world! Roger gave us a quick summary of the hair styling for the show, which was a very sleek up do comprised by layers of gel, serum and hairspray. The make-up was fairly simple and youthful, however the end result was flawless. Its amazing what a bit of foundation can do! I loved how relaxed the models looked in comparison to the manic stage crew!

However, I was most bewildered by the clothing which is no surprise. I fell head over heels in love with Holly Fulton the previous year when I watched the live show; it felt a bit surreal being part of back stage a year on! I adore the mixture of femininity and 60s nostalgia of Fulton's creations. I really admire the way in which Fulton combines delicate embroidery with electric, monochrome prints and textures. It was very tempting to try on the garments which innocently hung on the rails. It was a major relief that we got invited to watch the live show as I would have probably walked off set with a few pieces of new clothing... 

Me and Ellie were incredibly grateful to watch the show, especially when asked to sit second row despite not having a ticket! It was fascinating to see the show swing into full action. There was a notable contrast between the relaxed atmosphere of the runway and the tatters of stress which remained backstage. However, the soothing music and blinding stage lights numbed the commotions, and I was able to concentrate on the beautiful collection which looked even better off the rail. 

This season is by far my favourite collection by Holly Fulton. I loved the combination of the shimmery, 3D beading with the soft, asymmetrical silhouettes. The hint of bold coloured embellishment with the monochrome was incredibly eye-catching. Despite the heavy-duty detail, and sincerity of colour, the collection remained very wearable due to the cool, minimalistic aesthetic. Plus the chunky, white sunglasses and shiny sandals added a very summery vibe!

My favourite looks...

Me and Ellie left the show feeling rather euphoric, before stumbling into Holly Fulton herself! We couldn't resist congratulating her on the show. It was great to hear the designer talk about her collection fresh off the runway. I loved how our monochrome outfits compliment one another so well!

The rest of the day was quite a blur after that- it was mostly made up of bumping into old friends and colleagues, as well as getting photographed by likes of Vogue Paris, Womenswear Daily and lots of other interesting media establishments and photographers. Its always a pleasure to meet new people who share the same 'passion for fashion' as you! Unsurprisingly, nothing compared to the excitement of the Holly Fulton extravaganza!

Until next time LFW!

...M...

London Fashion Week SS15 - Outfit No.1

Photo credit- Carl Osbourn

Photo credit- Fran Zisk

 I can't believe its been a whole year since I first strutted the cobbles of Somerset House. In the space of 365 days a lot has changed, including my style. Since enrolling at Central Saint Martins, I have developed a surge of ignorance towards what I wear. I wear what I want, whenever I want. I don't dress according to society, or 'rules'. I like mixing different styles, shapes and genres of fashion to create my own individual style. I may have had members of the public tell me I look like an extra from 'StarTrek', a 'boy' and even a 'druggie', however, I would feel a lot less confident confining to society by wearing a pair of jeans and a t-shirt. 

Photo credit- Fran Zisk

There is no greater place on Earth to broadcast your style than London Fashion Week. In the space of  5 days, 120 hours and 432000 seconds, the capital entails a star-studded manifesto of high fashion where every stich of a gown, each step of a runway model and every flash of a camera is carefully monitored by the elite of the fashion industry. 

London Fashion Week takes place twice a year, which is quite a relief considering the amount of wardrobe prepping it requires. Fortunately, my outfit choice for Day 1 of SS15 was quite a stress-free decision. Prior to the event, I knew that I wanted to unveil my recently purchased, and much loved, Beth Postle t-shirt. For those who don't know Beth Postle, she is a recent Central Saint Martins BA fashion graduate. Despite having just graduated, Postle has become distinguished for her Cubistic technique which echoes the silhouette and portraiture of Picasso. Being the art enthusiast and Picasso devotee that I am, its no surprise that I instantly fell in love with Postle's aesthetic. I also admire the way in which each t-shirt is hand printed and painted; its like wearing a painting! 

Photo credit- Ellie Connor Phillips 

The toughest decision was deciding what to pair with the t-shirt. I decided to style it with quite a simple, monochrome attire as it complimented the bold outlines of the t-shirt's print. I added a few hints of block colour, including a yellow clutch and coral red lipstick, which highlighted the paint strokes of the illustration. The overall look is very feminine; the classic A-line skirt and Chanel-esque, tweed blazer ooze elegance. However, I incorporated my individual style by obscuring the  textures and shapes. The combination of the black Latex skirt with the furry clutch, and the white, chunky heels with the gym socks, draw a rather Surrealist misé-en-scene. My look is far from conventional, but who wants to blend in with the crowd at London Fashion Week? 

...M...

'Fashion observing' 

Photo Credit Eugene Shishkin

Outfit details: Top - Beth Postle // Blazer - TopShop // Skirt - TopShop // Clutch - Zara // Sock - American Apparel // Shoes -- River Island // Sunglasses - Céline

Introducing Céline

 

What passion do I share with Karl Lagerfeld, Andy Warhol and Elton John? No, not fame but frames. Yes- frames/ sunglasses/ shades, or whatever you call them. I may live in a climate that imitates a wet sponge at the best of times, but sunglasses are a necessity, come rain or shine, in the wardrobe of Fashion Obscura.  

My fixation with sunglasses began at the tender age of five when I slipped on my first pair of sunglasses from Next Girl. I felt so mature in my blue tinted aviators which were so heavily encrusted with crystals, they would have made Liberace blush. I was hardly the most confident person at primary school, but as I strutted around the playground in my shades I felt indestructible… well, up until the dinner lady suspended them for breaking the uniform code.

Ten years have passed, yet my love for sunglasses has developed into an obsession. Sunglasses are more than just an accessory and sun protector; they are my extra limb, my shield. I am that ostentatious person who wears sunglasses in all occasions. ‘So what if I’m inside?’ ‘Who cares if its raining/ snowing/ foggy?’ ‘Pfft why save money when you can have these designer glasses instead?!’

I certainly questioned the latter a few weeks ago when I splashed out on a pair of Céline glasses. Yes, I may be a student but in retrospect sunglasses are an essential tool as they conceal the remnants of late night study sessions and partying. Karl Lagerfeld, the Father of all Sunglasses, famously said, “Sunglasses are like eye-shadow. They make everything look younger and prettier.” Indeed Karl, a good pair of sunglasses can instantly revive an outfit, whilst adding effortless sophistication.

The perfect pair of sunglasses should interpret the elegance and glamour of Audrey Hepburn’s chic black frames in Breakfast at Tiffany’s, whilst maintain the cool enigma of James Dean’s Ray Ban Wayfarers. Its no surprise that I instantly fell in love with these Céline shades. I adore the combination of the thick black frame with the oversized cat eye lens. No doubt about it, I had to have these. In fact I dedicated three days searching high and low at every Céline retailer in London for a pair of these super rare frames. Surely that makes me a sunglasses addict?

... M...

London Fashion Week!

Photo courtesy of BuyMyWardrobe.com 

Three words: London Fashion Week. Where do I even begin to start explaining this surreal experience? 

Well for starters this was my first ever LFW, and in all honesty I didn't have any expectations apart from the prospect of cold wet weather on my silver heels. Little did I know that Saturday the 14^th of September would be one of the most eventful and unforgettable days ever; I guess you could say every grey cloud has a silver lining…

Photo courtesy of StyleFannet

Photo courtesy of Press Association 

In all honesty my LFW outfit was scattered together at the very last minute. The centre piece of my outfit was a rather daring, acid yellow coat from TopShop which would give a warning cone a run for its

money. The brightness of this jacket certainly made up for the lack of sunshine! I teamed this blinding wool coat with a more neutral palette which consisted of this season’s staple white pencil skirt and a black origami style jumper- both of which were from Zara. I then paired my favourite matching metallic Zara pumps and Monki oversized clutch to add some contrast to the outfit. Lastly, as I was rushing out of the door I felt a bit spontaneous and wrapped some netting around my face (as you do) which created a sort of abstract masquerade.

Despite the rain smacking on my very impractical silver pumps I stumbled my way to Somerset House and within minutes of walking in I was bombarded with photographers, bloggers and journalists asking me about my attire. I actually felt like I was on the red carpet of the Oscars minus the 40 degree heat *sigh*.  The next eight hours rushed by. Every minute consisted of interviews or the continuous flash of cameras- even when eating my lunch which was already difficult considering my face was caged with a net! However the bitter cold and blisters were worth it. I was fortunate enough to be photographed and interviewed for Glamour Magazine, Company, the Press Association, Yahoo, New Look TV amongst many other international and independent magazines, YouTube channels and TV stations.

Getting photograhed and interviewed for Company Magazine

There was a great buzzing atmosphere in Somerset House despite the gloomy weather which certainly didn't crush the mood or people’s wardrobe choices. It was an enthralling experience to see so many various styles of fashion in one compact place. It was touching to see so many people of different ages, nationalities and careers come together as one by the power of fashion. Tartan was a very popular choice of material as were bright neon’s however I didn't stumble across the same outfit once; I definitely picked up some fashion tips and inspirations which I can’t wait to try!

The Central Saint Martin's lot

It was rather surreal to see such a variety of style in one place, especially when I stumbled across some of my favourite fashion bloggers who inspire me so much. Throughout the day I met so many interesting bloggers, journalists, photographers and class mates from my university, Central Saint Martin’s; I’d like the thank each one of you for making the day such an enjoyable experience!
The day certainly became a lot more surreal when my favourite Radio 1 DJ and fellow fashionista Jameela Jamil personally came up to me and asked to take a photo of my outfit! Funnily enough I was running around Somerset House trying to catch a glimpse of her at the time she came up to me!  Jameela was lovely and very easy to get on with, we got chatting and I even got to model her amazing Lulu Guinness clutch which she later Instagrammed a photo of! Funnily enough we were both wearing TopShop coats and white nail varnish!

Me and Jameela 

The day got even better when I attended my first ever catwalk shows which were Holly Fulton,  Ashish and David Koma. I genuinely had to pinch myself to make sure I wasn’t dreaming when sitting third row at the iconic LFW runway (not a bad seat for my first show!). Considering I started reading Vogue from as young as I can remember, this was a dream come true. Its weird to think that I was sitting metres away from some of the biggest fashion names, designers and bloggers. Even Ellie Golding and Paloma Faith made an appearance at Ashish, it was impossible to not notice Paloma's fiery red hair! Both shows were phenomenal in their own ways (I will do a separate post on them very soon), and in all honestly the shows were just as I imagined- loud, snappy, fierce and totally over the top- but it’s an experience I will definitely cherish even if it lasted just a mere few minutes.

On the official LFW catwalk!

The amazing looks from Ashish

The day flew past and before I knew it the darkness and lack of sufficient lighting of the catwalk shows had spread outside. I finally departed Somerset House when they stopped distributing the free popcorn and energy drinks at the catwalk entrances. None the less Saturday the 14^th was by far the most unforgettable and best (fashion) days of my life. I loved every second of it and I can’t wait for the next season!
 Love,              

Maddy X

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