Time & Leisure article, 21st February 2014

With the age of the internet and the mushrooming numbers of bloggers, it’s hardly surprising that style emerging from the street is now influencing fashion trends almost as much as designer labels, and the two meet and merge at London Fashion Week’s Somerset House where celebrities, designers, bloggers, press, critics, photographers, showgoers, wannabees, models and people who’ve just wandered in off the street all rub shoulders, check each other out and leave inspired.

September’s key trends (checks, tartans, prints, statement necklaces, crazily dyed hair, cut out boots, dungarees, and all manner of headwear including caps, beanies, trilbies, bobble hats, berets, floppy wide-brimmed hats) lived on. Blinged up leather jackets, high impact nails and accessorising, metallics and luxe sportswear made their presence known, but the smattering of more classic Chanel-inspired, monochrome looks proved that they’ll never go out of fashion.

Fur dominated (stoles, gilets, jackets, coats, panels, collars) – mostly fake, but surprisingly for the UK also some real, and the other most prevalent look was ¾ trousers (rolled up jeans, cut off culottes or cropped slim leg trousers) worn with a blazer, cape, or (predominantly) an overcoat (often hung off the shoulders), statement trainers or high pumps, and accessorised with a simple shoulder bag worn across the body. Practical, feminine, and on trend.

Urban looks were given a twist with the addition of retro (50s) sunglasses, and some refreshing, ultra feminine, hippy and vintage vibes were emerging, as well as a lot of forward looking spring pastels and bold florals. Shoes or sandals worn with socks was a clear trend, and the general mood was towards femininity but with a bit of a twist, a bit of edginess. Smart coats were casualised by being worn with jeans and bright ‘statement trainers’, and heavily ripped / frayed jeans (in abundance) were dressed up with high heeled, brightly coloured, pointed pumps.

London wouldn’t be London if it didn’t throw out some grungey, out there looks. Anything goes, everything is embraced, no one is out of place and despite the damp grey weather, spirits were high. London Fashion Week February 2014 – I can’t wait for September!

Text and photographs by Emma Lewis-Galic (Nomad Thief)

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