London Fashion Week: Jonathan Saunders

I’m not quite sure how it is already that time again, but Fashion Month is just around the corner. And looking through the schedule for London Fashion Week, I’m positively tingling with the excitment at seeing what my favourite British designers will be showing this season. Because I can’t exist solely in a fashion bubble (I do have the rather serious day job which makes it tricky to disappear for an entire week), I’ll only be attending my favourite shows this time, but one I simply won’t miss is Jonathan Saunders.

Jonathan really is one of the brightest stars on the British design scene at the moment, and I’m not alone in thinking that; the entire fashion press seem to be having a love affair with his style. I’ve been fortunate enough to see his last three shows in person, and each time his remarkable talent for print and grown-up sexiness is akin to breath of fresh air. I’m yet to own a piece of his, but I’m dreaming about having one of those utterly gorgeous floral print dresses (and the custom Christian Louboutin heels to match) in my wardrobe. Win a trip to London Fashion Week + VIP tickets to Jonathan Saunders’ show with Motilo!

Because of my love for Jonathan Saunders, I wanted to share this special competition with you all: my friends at Motilo are giving away a VIP trip for two to London Fashion Week (1st prize includes travel, accommodation, tickets to Jonathan Saunders’ show for you and a friend and £1000 to spend, and there are six runner-up prizes of 1 x £500 and 5 x £100). And if you’re not one of the lucky winners, you can still watch the live stream of Jonathan Saunders’ show on the day. Find all the details and enter here. Good luck!Images: Jonathan Saunders Spring/Summer ’12 (top), Autumn/Winter ’12 (middle), Autumn/Winter ’11 (bottom). All photos taken by me at London Fashion Week.

Love, Miss B xx

* Sponsored content in partnership with Motilo *

London Fashion Week via Instagram

The excitement of a flurry of invites dropping through my letterbox. Packing a mountain of shoes, accessories and sparkly things. Off to the beautiful Savoy for the first show. A finale or forest green silks and tweedy lantern skirts at Maria Grachvogel. Taking the scenic route back to Somerset House via Trafalgar Square. Gorgeous twinkly jewels at the LFW exhibition space. An afternoon tea dance at Orla Kiely. A thousand giant padlock balloons line the entrance to the Mulberry show at Claridges. Friendly monsters and furry creatures on the runway at Mulberry. Liquid breakfast (about the only nutrition to be found at Fashion Week).

A beautifully illuminated Royal Opera House for the Matthew Williamson show. The fashion pack have so much love for Topshop and their show space (they feed us before every show). Impossible to beat show venues. The ubiquitous wall of photographers. My friend’s studded Louboutin slippers that made everyone’s feet jealous after days of wearing vertiginous heels. Secretary chic at Paul Smith. The breathtaking sunset panoramic views over London from the Jonathan Saunders venue. Oversized floral prints and a colourful, leggy finale at Jonathan Saunders.

Racing between my desk in Parliament and shows via places like this. Chamber music, chalet-chic silks and white furs at Roksanda Ilincic (surely the most pleasing way to start a weekday morning). Getting waylaid on the way to my next show by a parade of Royal Horseguards leaving Buckingham Palace (only at London Fashion Week). Watching the beauty pros do their thing as the models get primped and preened backstage before the shows. Fun, 60s nouveau at Holly Fulton. Charlotte Olympia heels to make me smile (even if my feet are grumpy about wearing heels). My fashion week essentials: oversized sunglasses (to hide the sleep deprivation) and too many jewels. Watching Australian wonderboy Dion Lee’s first London show (whilst sitting next to Kayne West. As you do…). Beautiful Somerset House is surely the most gorgeous location for Fashion Week HQ.

Do you follow Fashion Week (vicariously or in person)? What do you enjoy the most?

Love, Miss B xx

London Fashion Week: Giles Spring/Summer ’12

It’s that time of year again: Fashion Week is rolling into all the fashion capitals and I am so excited to say I’ll again be taking a few days leave from the day job to go to London Fashion Week.*

To get in the spirit of things (ie. sleep deprivation and high heel torture mixed with the thrill of being at the shows beside my fashion heroes), I’ve spent the afternoon looking through all my photos from last season. Which is when I realised that despite having had the privilege to attend all my favourite London shows (Mulberry, Burberry, Erdem, Giles, Mary Katrantzou, Jonathan Saunders and Christopher Kane), I haven’t yet shared any of my photos other than on my Tumblr photo diary, which is just plain selfish of me.

Set in the looming Victorian Gothic Royal Courts of Justice, Giles’ Spring/Summer ’12 show was the kind of spectacle that beautifully blurred the distinction between fashion and theatre. From feathered silk swan lake-print gowns and laser cut silver leather skirts to show-stopping crimson concoctions and brocade ballerina dresses; these were not the kind of clothes you to be worn in any ordinary setting. Oh no, these are clothes that simply yearn to be taken to the sort of grand balls that take place in Versailles and end with fireworks, clothes to be worn to the opera by mavens who live in palatial estates, clothes to make indelible memories in.

We don’t all have the kind of life that warrants a wardrobe this triumphant (one can dream…), but that does not make Giles Deacon’s sartorial tour de force any less wonderful. I’m not sure about you, but I’ve never been one to let reality get in the way of a beautiful vision.

Do you follow Fashion Week? Which shows are you most looking forward to this season?

Love, Miss B xx

* From this Friday 17th – Tuesday 22d, I’ll be attending all my favourite shows on the London scene. Don’t forget to follow me on Twitter, Tumblr, Instagram (iPhone) and Facebook for all my live updates!