Postcard from the frontline of LFW

[One of my London Fashion Week photos - more to come soon].

Whether you're very new to this blog or you've been with me since the days of imaginary re-styles on strangers and old photos of my relatives from the 1960s, it would mean so much if you would vote for me to be Grazia's Fashion Blogger of the Year, as I am a semi-finalist. Voting closes tomorrow (24/02) at 12pm, so get in there quick!

If you want to read the post I submitted as a guest of Grazia at LFW, then here it is: Holly Fulton, A/W12.

Even if I don't win then it has been an amazing experience to even make the shortlist and get to meet Holly Fulton in person, as well as my fellow semi-finalists. 

Thanks for reading!

LFW Snapshot: Reporting Duty for Grazia

 [Please click to enlarge all photos and ask before reproducing]. 

Holly Fulton's sleek fuschia trousers on the catwalk.

 With a smattering of butterflies, this dress was subtle enough to please even the least daring Fulton fan.

 It's all in the detail.

 Palm prints on Fulton knitwear, which apparently arrived the night before the show!

 Juxtaposition of patterns and black/turquoise balance.

 Last looks.

Backstage, waiting to interview Holly, we got a sneak peek of Ashish's collection before it was shown. 

The yellow top (second from front of rail) says 'Hare Krishna'. 

 In the buzz surrouding Holly, I couldn't help noticing one fellow interviewer's bag. Leopard lust has struck...

 Another look at Ashish. You can just see the blue tie-dye dress and the grey tie-dye knit.

 I love the motivational words scribbled on the backing boards of the BFC Show Space.

 L-R: Angela Buttolph, Editor-at-Large of Grazia; a representative of Talk PR; Holly Fulton herself.

 Blogger and semi-finalist Aelrid Turner (love her name) of Olive Collar, with Angela Buttolph.

Aelrid had just returned from a trip to Stockholm.

 Angela with blogger and semi-finalist Sheree Milli of Glitz 'n' Grime. 

Sheree and I went for a cup of tea afterwards - not quite a cocktail, but much-needed!

 Angela Buttolph and me outside the BFC Show Space. Excuse my creepy smile but the light was bright so I was semi-squinting - nope, haven't got the knack of fashionable posing. 

My t-shirt is Gareth Pugh for Topshop NEWGEN, the skirt and boots are vintage and the lipstick is Revlon 8 Hour Colour Stay Ultimate Lipstick Liquid (dear God, what a mouthful) in Top Tomato.

Great shot of Sheree as she posed for a street style photographer opposite us. 

I had an incredible day at London Fashion Week, and this is such a small percentage of my photos. Stay tuned for a sneak peek behind the scenes at Grazia HQ, as well as my own street style snaps at Somerset House. Aelrid, Sheree and Angela were all lovely and it was a pleasure to meet them and see the show together.

Lastly, you might be interested to hear that I'm nominated for Grazia's Fashion Blogger of the Year. You can vote by clicking on the link and choosing between Aelrid Turner, Sheree Milli and me.

LFW A/W2012: Holly Fulton is Botanical, Bold and Blue

 

[Please click to enlarge: collage of my own photos from the show. iPad courtesy of Grazia and Apple, as part of the Grazia Fashion Blogger of the Year competition]. 

 There aren’t many designers who would base a collection around their mum, but after seeing Holly Fulton’s Autumn/Winter 2012 offering from the front row, no less, I can safely say that Mrs. Fulton has great taste. “She works at the Botanical Gardens in Edinburgh, which was a main inspiration for this collection. She also wears a lot of all-blue outfits,” said Holly after the show, which was a riot of turquoise, teal, and mid-blue contrasted with cerise pink.

[All images my own, except for Botanical Gardens from gardenvisit.com].

  

As ever, Holly’s signature graphic style took hold, with bold black prints of greenhouses, butterflies and palms being accented with diluted shots of colour on satin dresses, tailored trousers, knitwear and long jackets, often using a 1960s slim-line silhouette. A surprise element came from lappet panels on skirts (think Roman Centurion’s costume but cooler), which broke up the form and patterns. 

 

 Attention was particularly drawn to the models’ backs, where designs often culminated in Pop Art-style details of jagged lines like lightning bolts or blue waves. This was where Holly’s love of art really came across; she told me that “fashion and art are paired together for me – they’re inextricably linked, particularly with [artist and fellow Scot] Edward Paolozzi, whose images end up in my collages.” Holly’s pieces can often feel like collages themselves, with mixed materials such as Perspex and PVC. 

 [Eduardo Paolozzi's work].

Accessories-wise, things were definitely shaken up here, with a move towards clusters of sparkly jewels, oversized bow clutches and fur bags that collectively had a 1980s feel, which reminded me of a previous collection (S/S2011) where she cited Joan Collins as an influence. I could just see Joan, big sunglasses and sharp shoulders á la Dynasty, loving Holly’s designs. 

 I sometimes think that Holly Fulton’s clothing reminds me of armour, as it projects an image of a strong and confident woman, whatever decade she’s channelling. This collection certainly didn’t disappoint in terms of battle-ready clothing, especially with the embellished metal top that closed the show, but even in her feminine dresses you could feel all-powerful. I’ve definitely got the Fulton blues for next season.

[The view from the front row...]

[A brilliant show from Holly Fulton].

Grazia's Blogging Competition - I'm a Semi-Finalist!

[Image of Holly Fulton's 2007 MA collection from the Royal College of Art, via HollyFulton.com]

For the past few days I've been in a bit of a fashion daze, and not just because London Fashion Week has started. On Thursday I found out that I've been chosen as one of three semi-finalists for Grazia Magazine's fashion blogger competition, which involved writing a blog post on the subject 'Fashion as it Happens'. Obviously I wasn't adhering to the topic by not telling you all instantly when I found out the good news, but essentially I was in disbelief! 

Now that the news has sunk in, I'm thrilled to say that this means I will be blogging from the front row of Holly Fulton's Autumn/Winter 2012-13 catwalk show at London Fashion Week, which takes place on Tuesday at Somerset House. All three semi-finalists will have their blog posts displayed on Grazia's website, where a winner will be chosen by public vote. It would be amazing if you could show your support on Tuesday (if you like what you read, of course), as it's a massive step forward for me as a fashion and lifestyle journalist. 

Okay, that's more than enough about me. Here are three reasons to love Holly Fulton's work:

1. She creates graphic architectural prints that are vivid and intricate - they'd make great art images even if they weren't on her clothing.
2. She uses colour wisely and sparingly.
3. She says "I have my best ideas when horizontal,". 

It's unbelievably exciting to even be attending Holly's show, let alone sitting in the front row to get an uncrowded view of her latest collection. Excuse me whilst I go and pinch myself yet again. 

P.S. If you want to watch the catwalk show live, head to the official London Fashion Week Live site at 12pm on Tuesday 21st February, or see the full video afterwards if you're too busy eating your lunch.