Fashion Week Favorites - London A/W 2017

Alena Akhmadullina



Luxurious velvets and lace are always good for the colder seasons for some reason. There's something romantic about them, something very cool-it-girl living in London about it. Not sure who or what makes me think this but damn are these clothes beautiful. I like seeing granny-chic pieces (I actually hate that term): the heavy coats with silly designs on them, the pussy bow blouses, capes, and more lace.

Burberry



At first I thought, is Christopher Bailey still at Burberry? Because this doesn't look like "typical" Chris Bailey. AKA reworked trench coats in plastic or some strange fabric, tons of cool accessories, a blast of colors...This is paired back, comfy, simple, and PERFECT. It was so hard to pick just three looks for Burberry this season. And the simple color palette! Just grey, ecru, beige, and white. Sure the color is fun for winter when our environments are void of the rainbow but there's something cozy about matching the snow.

Erdem



Back to the granny-chic! This time Erdem is giving me art historian vibes. The prints on the velvet dresses and coats (and shoes!) make me think this girl mirrored her clothes after the paintings she spends hours looking at.

Gareth Pugh



The Nine Inch Nails and Marilyn Manson lover inside of me LOVES Gareth Pugh. For when I want to bring out my inner goth, I can always count on something wild and creepy from Pugh. However, this wasn't as wild as usual (I remember seeing the most angular pieces on the runway years ago from Gareth Pugh and thinking about how no one got injured trying to dress the models). I like the minimal and dramatic approach this time around: a massive fur coat a la a Yeti. Or a pair of the longest pants that are as black as the sky on a moonless night. Or (!) a larger than life, overwhelming, floor length coat/dress. It's all so demanding and I love it.

J. JS Lee



The attention to comfort designers are giving this season is everything! There's room to breath, room to wiggle. I wonder why this is though. I always think about what's going on in society that makes designers react the way they do. Is it because of Trump? Brexit? Are we so uncomfortable with our daily lives and every gross thing going on around the world that we need some extra coziness from our clothes? I think so. And at J. JS Lee, there's gonna be fun and lighthearted colors, tied scarves, and fabrics that'll make your baby's blanket jealous.

Le Kilt



On the opposite side of the spectrum, Le Kilt is reminding me of This Is England (of which I deeply miss and will forever love). 2009 me loves leopard print creepers and skirts and plaid and tartan and all black and the primary colors and tights and Doc Martens. I basically love the nostalgia here and love that this isn't particularly on trend.

Pringle of Scotland



And back to the comfies! We can always count on Pringle of Scotland for the cozies. Nothing massive to report here, just that I need that first look's cardigan. It looks like someone shaved a sheep, cut it in a basic textile, sewed some cool buttons on it then threw it on the model. And I say that in a good way. And hello, oversized roll necks? I'm down. I just hope Tennessee weather will permit me to wear these chunky silhouettes next season.

Temperley London



I've expressed my love for a good contrast on here many, many times. Here is no exception. The dainty dress on the first model mixed with casual flats and that crazy mouth print is ace. And the classic glittery, flirty skirt paired with an oversized turtle neck. But this knit has some shape to it - which is a good, unexpected detail.

Victoria Victoria Beckham



I like Victoria Victoria Beckham better than her main line. The shapes are more interesting - over at Victoria Beckham it's sort of the same thing each time: a shapeless dress over knee high boots with gloves...something like that. Some color blocking. Very streamlined. And it's a look, don't get me wrong. But the goods are over at VVB. The layering, first of all, is so delicious. And the shades of grey are making me want to set my pinks and blues aside and focus on what so many people might call a boring color. Lastly, I never care too much for graphics on tops. But here it's a minimal and quite cute doodle of some ladies.

Fashion Week Favorites - London and Milan Fashion Week AW 16

London

Roksanda



As much as I love a good pair of skinny jeans and a beat up leather jacket, I really love some pussy bow blouses, ruffles, and pleats. And Roksanda is making me want to replace my wannabe rocker wardrobe for some romantic colors and shapes.

Temperley London



I'm really more in love with the colors at Temperley. Those icy blues and cool periwinkles are perfect for winter, I think. It's all about the contrast: a wispy dress underneath a strong military jacket; pretty blues for dark winter days.

Milan

Les Copains



As previously stated, it's all about the contrast. And this is a perfect example of what I love the most about a good, healthy balance: thick, heavy angora knits over sweet delicate lace. I love the black against the pink and grey and the spider brooches mixed with a floral applique skirt. Gimme all of it.

For Restless Sleepers



Anyone who knows me knows I'm not a fan of prints and that I'm definitely not a fan of animal print. So why do I love this For Restless Sleepers collection so much? Because it conveys a great story and a great character. There's this glamorous woman who lives among all of her luxurious and opulent antique furnitures in the depths of Morocco somewhere. She's an Italian transplant who probably has a pet tiger and a rich husband from Spain. Who knows what her story is; this is why I love fashion.

Agnona



I think I am slowly moving away from wearing neutral colors. Give me all sorts of blush tones and throw in some grays and tans and we're good to go. Agnona's collection was short and sweet and full of some of my favorite silhouettes from one of my favorite time periods: the mid-20th century.

london fashion week

Daks

Daks always shows clothes that I actually want to wear. The causality of it all is what's so intriguing. Take for example the third to last look: a knee-length skirt in the signature print with a black sweater...but with sheer detailing. And a cut out heel. The colors are always muted. There's always a brown and a beautiful cream, loads of black. But I like the newer colors like that mauve and peach. Oh and that sparkle shawl-top. 

Paul Smith

Primary colors are always exciting the human eye. They're their own color. Red, blue and yellow are most painter's choice for base colors and sometimes blue. They're attractive because they are bold and stand alone. Much like Paul Smith in general. His collections are bold as he always dresses women in menswear (I like that there were a few dresses this season). The pieces are smart and can be independently worn. Take one of the red trousers or green trousers or any jacket and pair it with anything in your closet. I guarantee it would work. 

Preen

I don't know what it is about Preen that I like. I'm not a prints gal, but there's something so neat about Preen that I can't help but notice. Maybe it's the fact that those crazy and sometimes annoying prints are contrasted with simple colors and architectural and clean silhouettes. They're also juxtaposed with different angles and and aura of minimalism.