Fashion Week Blog fuk@lfw s/s 08

Day Six at London Fashion Week

We're still going great guns. Sorted out tech this morning and decided that it was best to take the baby camera and not the heavy beast. Selene and Karen were headed to Vauxhall Fashion Scout while I went to Fashion Fringe. Great design competition and Michael from Blow had asked me if I could sort him out with a scooter ride from Fashion Fringe (Michael is instrumental to this event but he never gets to attend it) to his own show Modernist at the BFC Tents. Nick from Bar Italia was on hand to oblige. Unfortunately, poor Michael couldn't get away from the Modernist show and never got to Fashion Fringe (maybe next year when it's the 5th anniversary).

Bruno Basso

Carri Cassette Playa

The show was in Covent Garden, in a tent in the Piazza. Then a reception in a venue opposite. Chatted to Bruno and Chris aka Basso and Brooke, former Fashion Fringers supporting the cause. Wallpaper. Their new wallpaper comes out soon. Talked about the shows we've seen and the influences. We always have a laugh. Bruno was model scouting. Gavin Douglas told me about his shoes. The man has a natural talent for shoes. He hooked up with an East End company, sorry I haven't got the name but I was very excited to hear him say that he'd designed and made his shoes locally. Respect.

Graeme Armour, Andrea McWha, De-jan and Aminaka Wilmont were the finalists. Marcus Wilmont and Aminaka Lofvander. Didn't like the way the press release said Basso & Brooke and Erdem "who were past winners and have since become successful brand names in the fashion industry."

Is that what it's all about? Becoming a successful brand "name". Doesn't work for me. It's too restricting and ultra commercial.

Modernist at BFC next, Nick from Bar Italia Scooter club got me there safe and sound. Selene and Karen went to Nico D at Fashion Scout. Very pretty show with mad strip lights. Then MAN show at Old Sorting Office New Oxford Street. Nick scootered me. I saw buildings I hadn't noticed before, really neglected but once quite regal mansion blocks, there's defo a scooter/bike vision of London.

MAN show was brilliant. Mad crowd outside. Fashion East production. Smooth. Into the dark space, an old sorting office that has't been re-developed. It's great to bring such a mixed crowd into a proper London building that hasn't yet been plunged.

Caught up with Carri Mundane who told us her real name is Carri Munden and she was going to change it back! Love talking to her. Karen Bins was also happy to have a chat, what a woman she is. The force is with her. She's an inspirational to quite a few London designers and a brillaint lady. Hope the video does her justice. Gordon Richardson designer of Topman Design had a word and it was well funny. He explained the collection, the sections, the stories, everything beautifully. Had to ask where it was being made. All over the place. Then Gordon wanted to interview me and pumped me for the 'names' to watch for. I should send him an invoice for the free consultancy.

Final show of the day. Monmouth Street, Two See Boutique Jean-Pierre Braganza. Presentation. Probably his best collectiion ever.

Day Five London Fashion Week

What a brilliant day. Started off bit dodgy cos of the broken camera and being v tired, but then it all clicked into place. Lovely friends helped out and we had two functioning cameras before long. Would have loved to spoken to Ashish but kit was lacking, top show. Brightened up the dull BFC tent big time. Music was great too. Great start to the day, a morning slot can be challenging but Ashish is perfect start. Then Aslanturk at Vauxhall Fashion Scout, really well attended bit different, then Spijkers and before that having a laugh sorting out our new kits.

Chris Moore with our Jimmy Hill

Spijkers and Spijkers

Louise Gray, Lulu Kennedy and Henry Holland backstage at Fashion East

Karen Savage is dynamite. Not only did she help us get a camera quicktime no bother, she missed shows to get it to us and then was Mrs Tech sorting it out. No fear on that woman. She was in there poking around, talking sussing it all out with the boys from Brightonart. Karen, can we have you every Fashion Week? We've had such a laugh as well.

Mark from Brightonart came to the rescue also with lend of a little camera. Belt and braces. Hooray.

Spijkers and Spijkers girls beaming with confidence this season. Drop dead collection. Mad job getting both of them out back out to interview. They so love London and I think they really have earned their place here. What clothes! Chris Moore asked me if I had Jimmy with me. He'd seen Jimmy at Yuko and has been spreading the word. He was happy to pose for a photo with Jimmy. Hill's a Fashion Week hit innit.

Following an encounter with a woman yesterday whilst I was in on/off press room, we got a special cab to Fashion East. Janet, trained reflexologist and top lady from Essex and Scholl massaged our feet. Jeanine from not sure which company opened a bottle of champagne.. it was weird but v handy for us as we had top heavy kit and what lovely people. Andy licensend London cabbie was ace. Lovely drive.

Fashion East was fantastic. Truly. Back at the Truman. I like it there. It is Fashion East. They had people with plaquards pointing the way on the road, sorted. The music that greeted us had us dancing. Candy Staton, David Bowie Oh You Pretty Things, Diana Ross Upside Down. Within seconds Karen had a whole little dance worked out and we had a couple of dancers join us, Cathal ilovecathal.com, and a man I've never met before but he rose to the challenge and you cann see it on vid hopefully coming quite soon..

Had a chat with Caryn Franklin outside the Truman. She's so interesting. Did a little interview. Thank you to Brian from Blonstein & Associates who was really kind and escorted me through the mad throng to the loo. All the Blondstein shows I've been to have been well run.

Henry Holland, was shocked. One season in and he has so much going on. Great prints, bags, shoes - so much more than T-shirts. I didn't realise it was House of Holland at first. He's been busy. Excellent interviewee, had loads of fun talking about his collection and totally unphazed when I brought out Jimmy Hill and gave him style advice. On video..

Noki took my breath away. The clothes are bonkers mad recycling sculptures with masked models. I asked Noki if he wanted to take his mask off for the interview and he said, "No I won't reveal my face to mass media". Fair enough. Really interesting man who spoke so eloquently about his experience before now and his apprenticeship in recycling. I didn't have to ask much, really wanted to suss his method of working, but he just gave forth beautifully.

So fingers crossed all tech is fine and we'll have great pics, text and video of all this action soon.

Maia Adams on LFW Model Sanctuary

Early this morning, as those fashion faithfuls who'd forsaken their Sunday morning lie-ins queued for the first show of the day, show space, Erin O'Connor took to the lectern in the pre-show atrium to deliver a speech on a new BFC initiative: The Model Sanctuary. Created to give models a 'place to relax, recuperate and consult a nutritionist without fear of getting snapped' it offers worn out mannequins the chance to re-charge their batteris. What we at fuk would like to know is when they're going to set up a Press Sanctuary for those of us who don't have dressers, chauffeurs or even a make-up artist to touch up our shiny bits. Still, all that walking up and down must be exhausting…

Great day - technical problems but that's Fashion Week

Oh gawd. Just got back from a brilliant day on the fashion frontline and downloading all our video it seems we've killed our video camera. And today's footage, 33 mins of beautiful stuff with Avsh Alom Gur, Nana from Aganovich, Yuko's show on Newburgh Street, Sado show which was unexpectedly interesting at On/Off at The Royal Academy. Got what I hope was a great interview with Carlotta and Evan... Oh dear dear dear dear.

Cassette invitation to Yuko Yoshitake's show.

This has happened before. We had one day without sound last season. It was all good from there. Think we'll have to source a new camera quick, but we'll be back, twice as strong and hopefully get to speak to Av, Nana and all the peeps again.

Gutted though. Would have liked to shared these experiences and conversations we had today because there are amazing talents we wanted show you on video. But gotta take it on the chin.

What a day we are having..

Avsh Alom Gur put rubbish on the catwalk - seriously briliant. He and his team have been wondering around the capital picking up carrier bags, cans, and turned it into the most blinking amazingly beautiful collection which also pays homage to bicycles - oh my lordy. Then Aganovich delivered a full on London show - that girl is so good it is scary. This season she was inspired by Linton Kwesi Johnson - if you don't know this British poet/performer get googling and downloading now. He's the business and Nana knows it.

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Avsh Alom Gur - best goody bag of the week.

Day Three of London Fashion Week - still having fun

We took Jimmy Hill with us today. I've brought him all week but he's been in my kit bag. Today we let him watch a couple of shows. He had a nice dance and loved the Basso and Brooke show - he didn't say anything but he grinned a lot.

Day for us started at on/off, where it was lovely to see once again Tony the fabulous security man, a favourite Fashion Week face of ours. Reem was a surreal gothic Victoriana affair, didn't like the rabbit fur, didn't know it was going to be there, but there you go. Some very beautiful pieces at Afshin Feiz, v sophisticated, then it was an oustanding show for us by Peter Pilotto. He's in his sixth season but only moved back to London (he was at the RCA) in November - he was based in Paris and before that the Austrian designer was in Antwerp. Loved his jackets. I couldn't get to Carolyn Massey myself but Penny and Hardeep headed over so we should have photos and a report soon. Heard it was ace. John Rocha at the tents was brilliant. I think some people migt overlook Rocha cos he's not a 'trendy' ticket but maybe that's why we absolutely adore what he does. His clothes are so beautifully constructed and he is one of the few designers who can create menswear and womenswear equally well.

Long wait for the off-schedule debut by German twins, Felder Felder at The Vauxhall Fashion Scout. Cor blimey. Almost left because Basso & Brooke was the next show and that took place in an obscure pocket of west London a fair way from SW7. Managed to see the show and then taxi-ed it (sadly no scooter available) while David did his usual Vespa dash.

Great show. Full of colour, amazing prints, Stephen Jones' hats couldn't have been better - really fun, some in formica, some handpainted. Had a chat with Chris and Bruno - in the queue to talk to them there was Chris' Mum and Dad, no lie. Mum and Dad queuing to speak to their own son, bless. There were behind me so I let them go in front. I also let a French woman go in front of me as she was threatening to leave if she didn't get her interview within two minutes. The poor PRs are really up against it at these sort of shows. Anna from Blow is excellent and she keeps her calm in these daft moments wonderfully. This was our last show of the day and I was chuffed that it was near my gaff so I could hot foot it home before my whole family's sparko.

Right, better get those reports written up while I'm still able. Oh, saw photographer Chris Moore for the first time this LFW, he said he was thinking about jacking it all in and keeping chickens. I suggested he get the chickens but still keep snapping, he didn't reckon the two were compatible. Can't see an exhibition of chicken portraits by Chris Moore very likely, but who knows.

Day Two of London Fashion Week we've had a ball

It's a privilege for us to encounter so much talent. This morning we saw Nicola de Main's collection and it is so impressive. Really well thought out beautifully made, our show report coming soon with photos, a serious talent. She's from Yorkshire, proper lass.

[inline:1]Also bumped into Andy Lewis at the show, never met him before but total fan of his Billion Pound Project album. His single Are You Trying Be Lonely is a collab with Paul Weller and it's just come out. He's a mighty talent and a joy to talk to. He's getting married in October and Nicola is making the dress for his soon to be mrs.

Enjoyed speaking to Ken O'Rourke, hair stylist at Xterity by Tracy Mulligan. He was so upfront and articulate - told us exactly how the hair had happened - a real story. Georgina Harley Smith really was great. London. Born and bred Hackney girl who delivered a great show, best models I've seen so far this season. They grooved and danced in the clothes...

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Fay Presto

Today I met Fay Presto and I still can't believe it. What an amazing woman. Bar Iatlia Scooter Club member with her own customised rhinestone helmets. Honoured. Thanks Fay for brilliant scooter ride I felt safe on your wheels you led beautifully.

http://www.faypresto.co.uk/

We're at London Fashion Week!

[inline:1]We got scootered across town and it was brilliant. What a way to arrive at LFW. The scooters dropped us off at the Harrods' loading bay off Knightsbridge. They headed for more coffee (they drink a lot of coffee those Bar Italia Scooter Club guys) and then came to pick us up. Gavin Douglas gave great collection, think Amy Winehouse meets Cleopatra in the 1980s. Then to cheers from some onlookers the scooters took us along back streets I have never seen before to the Natural History Museum. We're here now and have just hooked up with our wonderful snapper. He has just given me his Gavin Douglas photos which are fab...

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The Scooters are coming!

The Bar Italia Scooter Club has left Bar Italia and they are scootering to my gaff to take me Selene and Karen to our first show of London Fashion Week, Gavin Douglas at the Harrods Loading Bay. We're cooking them brekkie. Photos and vid to follow.

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