A Fashion Thrill
London Fashion Week: four days of fabulous style and an explosion of creativeness where originality is a must, uniqueness is celebrated, and fashion madness is mandatory.
Somerset House transforms into a catwalk where trendsetters exhibit their fashion sense and well thought-out outfits. Also au rendez-vous are photographers waiting for celebrities or for the latest trendy fashion blogger to show up.
Outside Vivienne Westwood Red Label show, the crowd sets the tone of the show. Two lightly dressed, bleached blond girls get all the photographers’ attention. Powdered with talc, they are eating grapes off each other’s mouth wearing vampire teeth. Although the spectacle is as much inside as it is outside of the show, those who couldn’t attend are watching it live on the giant outdoor screen. During these exiting days, I was lucky to attend many young, upcoming designers shows, including Fashion East's.
On the last day of Fashion Week, I was invited to attend Anya Hindmarch show. As I arrived early to Old Billingsgate Walk, I contemplated the beautiful view of the Thames River and London Bridge. Lost in my thought, I heard “do you mind if I take a picture?” as I agreed, the EOnline photographer tells me with a joyful and satisfied voice “ah, you’re the first of the day.” The arrival of Poppy Delevigne interrupted his story about his latest paparazzi adventures. Kate Reardon, Editor-in-Chef of Tatler magazine made an entrance as cameras were following her. A hostess greeted Olivia Palermo as soon as she finished posing in front of the Anya Hindmarch backdrop, “Olivia please follow me.” In the midst of this fashion thrill and high profile crowd, I impatiently waited for the show.
The electronic sound of bar code scanning resonates in the room. The black and white stripes of the runway animates as the models stand on moving conveyor belts. With Barbie-like poses they carry Digestive biscuits inspired pouch and Ariel washing powder clutch. Like items at the checkout counter, they pass through the giant barcode runway. Some arrive carrying trolleys and shopping baskets displaying Kellogs, and Frosties bags. As the orange, moon shaped smiley faces decorates the “Happy shopper” bags, male dancers start spinning around on Judy Garland's 'Get happy' song. The Fashion show becomes a real musical. The dancers swing from each side of the catwalk moving belts while double bass players pop out from the wall with only their playing hands visible.
A real performance, that took us to a glamorous supermarket, where shopping is all about joy and fun. A humourous, uplifting and quirky experience that all made us really HAPPY.
