Source: Marcus Tondo/Indigital.tv
London Fashion week kicked off on Friday with full force, despite the looming uncertainty of the United Kingdom’s fate come March 2019.
Written by Jessica Graham
London-based designers are currently struggling to come up with a coping strategy following Britain’s departure from the EU. Big name designers like Alexa Chung and Victoria Beckham showed their SS19 collection this weekend amid all the potential Brexit threat fashion may face.
Brexit aside, most of the buzz from London has been around heritage house Burberry and Victoria Beckham, whose eponymous label was launched in 2008. Riccardo Tisci’s first collection for Burberry hit the runway on Monday, and the bars were set high after the sentimental departure of his beloved predecessor, Christopher Bailey. After a rough year of declining sales, Tisci’s arrival re-positions the luxury brand – and made the show the climax of London Fashion Week. Burberry revealed their new logo in August, and for the first time in its 162 year history, the company has stated it will stop using fur and destroying unsold product.
Victoria Beckham, on the other hand, is celebrating her brand’s 10th anniversary, and showed in London for the first time on Saturday. The collection featured the brand’s classic mix of both femininity and masculinity, with structured blazers and silky camisoles. More youthful than her previous collections, Beckham also mixed in metallic detailing and red colour blocking. The collection stayed true to the Victoria Beckham brand, and reminded the fashion world why she was able to go from being a spice girl to a heavy fashion mogul.
Another show everyone has been talking about is JW Anderson, who has become a British fashion mogul himself, and never fails to create complex – yet simple clothing that stays away from any fashion clichés. The clothes never fail to be interesting, and amazingly crafted. The SS19 collection was untraditionally bohemian, with contrasting leather and chain bandanas paired with fringe detailing on neck scarves and hems. Then there was another JW staple, pyjama-inspired and coordinated looks, matched with neon pointed boots. The show was another huge hit for the designer, and perfectly illustrates the creative newness of London Fashion Week.
