London Fashion Week: The 40th Anniversary

Image Credit: Getty Images

London Fashion Week never fails to captivate attention with its unique blend of innovation, heritage and style both on the catwalk and of those attending. This year was no exception with world renowned designers as well as some up and coming brands showcasing their incredible Autumn/Winter collections. Let’s delve into our highlights of London Fashion Week focusing on the shows that we still can’t stop thinking about!

Burberry

Burberry, renowned for its quintessentially British aesthetic, took centre stage headlining London Fashion Week this season. Stepping into a gloomy atmosphere with dim blinking lights, cement floors and in a room that had very minimal features. The collection paid homage to London - its heritage and people, embodying opulence and moodiness, playing into British stereotypes. The collection also represented the ever-winter weather in London with a stark focus on outerwear in this collection. Burberry’s iconic trench coats were the centrepiece with the modern twist of an added turtleneck, a timeless piece that will be loved and certainly epitomises that signature London style. The collection followed a muted colour palette again representative of the moody nature of London throughout history. The collection itself in combination with their choice of olde-timey music alluded to a detective-like theming adding a sense of story to what was a classic Burberry collection.

Image Credit: Courtesy of Burberry

JW Anderson

In a twist of tradition, JW Anderson presented a collection that celebrated the ordinary and evoked a sense of childhood nostalgia by transforming everyday items into high fashion garments. Set in Marleyborne’s Leisure Centre, the show featured mundane pieces like house slippers, large underwear and grey curly wigs alluding to the ‘ordinary’ British identity. Layers of underwear and knitted dresses took to the runway alongside wonky proportions and very oversized house coats that were reminiscent of the mature lady next door aesthetic. Where much of fashion has focused on over the top bright coloured garments, Anderson wanted to create a sense of nostalgia from the mundane, something that everyone could connect with. From the setting of a sports hall to the collection itself, the show served as a reflection of ordinary Britain with a surreal high fashion twist that left audiences, including us, captivated.

Image Credit: Courtesy of JW Anderson

Molly Goddard

Molly Goddard’s London Fashion Week collection was a masterclass in texture, silhouette and vibrancy. Drawing inspiration from vintage pieces and archived samples, Goddard crafted a collection infused with fuzzy, blur-like textures with bold, bright colours. The runway came to life with voluminous shapes and western-inspired details including embroidered shirts and leather belts which added some more conventional silhouettes to her collection. Goddard’s designs exuded a sense of playfulness with a 1980’s-espue style in both shape and colour.

Image Credit: Coutesy of Molly Goddard

Simone Rocha

Simone Rocha transported attendees into a dark world of history with her collection inspired by Queen Victoria’s mourning attire. Held within St Bartholomew the Great in Smithfield, the show captured the perfect solemn tone of Victorian mourning rituals alongside the elegance of the Queen’s attire. Rocha’s designs with their intricate detailing paid homage to a bygone era while also maintaining modern elements. The juxtaposition of delicate lace with voluminous skirts created a sense of dark beauty that resonated with audiences leaving them captivated, showcasing Rocha’s incredible craftsmanship and ability to storytell through fashion.

Image Credit: Courtesy of Simone Rocha

London Fashion Week Autumn/ Winter 2024 was a celebration of heritage, innovation and immense creativity that defines British fashion and these collections certainly left a mark on the global fashion landscape.