London Fashion Week: Retrospective And Other Public Events

By Janan Jay Last edited 133 months ago
London Fashion Week: Retrospective And Other Public Events
Maddalena Mangialavori @ London College of Fashion
Maddalena Mangialavori @ London College of Fashion
 Keiko Nishyama @ London College of Fashion
Keiko Nishyama @ London College of Fashion
 Xin Sun @ London College of Fashion
Xin Sun @ London College of Fashion
Courtesy of Retrospective
Courtesy of Retrospective
Courtesy of Retrospective
Courtesy of Retrospective

London Fashion week is gracefully sashaying our way, and while only few of us will be attending the real deal, there are plenty of opportunities for style conscious city dwellers to get in on the fashion action, with more events open to the general public than ever before.

The most prominent gathering this year is Retrospective, on Saturday 16 February at the Bloomsbury Ballroom. The only vintage show taking place during fashion week, it’s set to be an impressive trip through 50 years of fashion. Priority ticket holders can enjoy a cheeky cocktail before sitting down to see some beautiful and iconic designs by some of some of the industry’s biggest names. The show grants a glimpse into the glamour of a festival that usually takes place behind closed doors, without enduring the stress of trying to network through daddy’s business partner’s niece’s tennis buddy who went to school with Kate Moss.

Those who prefer an ethical cut to their cloth need look no further than Ecoluxe London, on 17 and 18 February. The ethos is high-end fashion with a heart, ethical designers creating luxury eco-conscious brands, and while the main exhibition is restricted to buyers and press, there will be a pop-up boutique open to the public carrying a limited range of items from the collection.

Why not throw some raw young talent into your scout and witness some rising stars by paying a visit to the London College of Fashion MA13 Exhibition, from 16 to 18 February, as it opens into doors to the general public for the first time at the Victoria House Basement, Bloomsbury square. Or, if you fancy hanging out round Shoreditch way and rocking out to some tunes then pop along to Cult Mountain on Sunday 17 February, to enjoy a presentation of Jylle Navarro’s latest knitwear collection with an intergalactic influence, brought to you in collaboration with band My Bad Sister. It’ll be free, fun and in Brick lane from 6pm.

Before you set off, give the Manolos a rest and get into the mood the Friday before it all kicks off with Fashion Victim the musical at the Roxy, which looks at the darker side of life on the cut-throat catwalk and runs for an extremely limited two days – so get in there quick, but without using that oversized LV as a battering ram, we’re wise to that trick, you scrappy diva, you.

London Fashion Week takes place 15-19 February at Somerset House and numerous venues around London.

Last Updated 12 February 2013