London Fashion Week AW'11, Day Five

Day Five is finally here...hoorah! Not that I don't love Fashion Week, but five days of running around town in silly heels, drinking only champagne (water has not passed my lips, which is actually rather silly as my skin now looks like that of a teenage boy) and smiling constantly, takes its toll.

Today was a busy day, so just as well that I dressed comfortably. Not!

Vest: Primark (keeping it real)
Jacket: Vintage
Necklace: Butler & Wilson (amazing, but I actually have cuts on my neck from the weight of it!)


Trousers: Yves Saint Laurent
Shoes: Christian Louboutin
Bag: Chanel

And today shows were:

MARIOS SCWHAB

I've always been a fan of Marios Schwab...and he didn't disappoint. He might have played it a little safe with an homage to all of his previous seasons, but I thought it was a great collection. There were simple, flattering dresses, statement cover-ups and great details (bondage buckles being my fave!).

I love this coat. It reminds me of the coats he sent out a few years ago - I took them all the way to the glaciers of New Zealand to shoot them for Grazia. Anyway, I want this coat please.

The dresses may be simple, but they are tailored to perfection

AQUASCUTUM

Aquascutum is all about the coats and this season there were lots of them. I really like the fact that there was a more youthful feel to the collection. I've been scribbling the same words in my notebook all week: deconstruction and reconstruction (looks like Tim Blanks at Style.com has been copying my homework because he's only gone and bloody used my ideas in his show review!), and boy was that phrase appropriate here today - take the herringbone coat with the puffy gilet attached on top as an example.

I found some of the layering a bit too much, but then, you don't have to buy a whole look. I still believe that an  Aquascutum coat is an investment for life.

A sporty edge

Classic meets current

 Over-layered?

Love, love, love the blue gloves with fur detail - so fun!

High-impact outerwear

ROKSANDA ILLINCIC

Just stepping in to the salon (definitely not just a room) at the Roksanda show, was like walking in to a slice of bourgoise history. Gorgeous!

After a series of more casual looks, Roksanda showed off her real strength - beautiful dresses. Slinky, sexy and red-carpet perfect, there were yelps of delight all over the place.

Thigh high slit? Check. Maribou feathers? Check. Clashing colours? Check. 

Lust-factor? Check, check, check!

Trousers: The new dress?

I.N. 

L.O.V.E.

MEADHAM KIRCHHOFF

Now, it's quite hard to comment on this show. It was amazing, but I couldn't possibly tell you what the clothes were like. The choreography of the models' walk was simply stunning. Rather than sending out the models one-by-one, they all marched down the catwalk together, entering, leaving, entering, leaving...and then gone. Just like that.

It must have been the shortest show ever. I was so engrossed by the march that I could barely pay any attention to what the models were actually wearing.

Uber-stylist Tamara Cincik summed it up perfectly: "Ashkenazi Salem"...I'll let you have a think about that one...

ASHISH

Well, it probably comes as no surprise that I am a HUGE fan of Ashish. A man after my own heart, he's as big a fan of sequins as I am! I loved this collection and felt he'd really come on in leaps and bounds after last season's cowboy-McDonalds efforts.

Of course the announcement that this was the final show of LFW had the audience in a fabulous mood, but we were positively skipping after the fun and lightness of Ashish's work.

A sequin tribute to Chanel - I have never felt love quite like this before! 

 Lilac tartan in sequins? Who'd have thought that work so well?!

A hop, skip and a jump later, I was quaffing Moet at the My-Wardrobe party at Sketch - a totally chic soiree celebrating the website's re-launch, which you can see right here.

And that, dear readers, sums up my London Fashion Week.

 That's a lot of shows!

LFW: Part 2 - Miss Magpie's picks

LFW is pretty much over for another season and boy has there been some awe-inspiring shows. Equally, there have been some shows that have left me either bored or horrified (or both), but let's no go there.

Here are some more of my highlights from LFW A/W'10:

Christopher Kane A/W'10

This look ticks all of my boxes - slutty without being smutty, chic yet fun and enough daring to make sure you stand out (Miss Magpie is no shrinking violet). Though I adore this look, there was some pretty dodgy floral embroidery and Oriental collars going on that i'm not entirely sold on. Will they grown on me? They've got until next autumn to work on it. In the meantime i'll stick to some of the great separates Kane threw in.

Erdem A/W'10

Erdem has always been the master of the print, but this season it was this utterly lustworthy trench coat that caught my eye. It is my idea of perfection, especially with this totally luxurious shearling lined hood. The printed dresses were pleasant enough (read 'blah') but weren't the usual vivid colours we are used to...and I miss that.

Paul Smth A/W'10

Paul Smith came as a bit of a surprise to me. I'm not normally that interested (sorry Sir Paul) but this season, I could really see the collection working. I thought the mix of country casuals with city chic worked really well. I'm not too sure on the PVC macs and highly unoriginal torn tights, but i'll forgive that on the strength of the rest.

Marios Schwab A/W'10

It's no secret that I am a huge fan of Marios Schwab, so I hate to admit that this season I was a little disappointed. Going back to his Austrian roots (because Lederhosen have always been such a huge hit on the fashion front?!) the collection went a bit too themed for my liking. However, there were some great shapes that are very wearable (that's the other thing: it seems that Schwab is now going more commercial and dampening down his previous flamboyance - I guess he has to make some money like the rest of us).

Antonio Berardi A/W'10

OMG. Total and utter triumph. Antonio Berardi designs for the woman we all aspire to be: mature, sophisticated, sexy and comfortable in her own skin. This collection included some magnificent silhouettes that really worked on the curves of the female body. There was nothing about it I didn't like. I want it. All.

Basso & Brooke A/W'10

Because I love a crazy print every now and again, I always look forward to the Basso & Brooke show and this season I was in print heaven. Almost like the Magic Eye poster I had in my youth, this collection drew you in and had you mesmerised. Pulling away from the prints, there were some gorge dresses and coats that are bound to liven up next winter.

Nathan Jenden A/W'10

How could you not like this show? Full of excitment and zing, every single look delivered a burst of energy. I have a particular penchant  for all things animal print, so to see so much zebra trotting down the catwalk, I was delighted.

Buberry A/W'10

I just had to save the best for last. Christopher Bailey is without a doubt, an absolute genius. Firstly, I love how Burberry are persuing their aim of world domination with their live screenings and 3D showings. What a stroke of brilliance! Secondly, the collection. Wow. Comprised of military uniform style cover-ups and super-sexy OTK boots, there was nothing I didn't like (or want). My fave coats were the shearling, pilot styles with big collars (I love a dramatic collar), but i'd wear any one of them to be honest. Burberry must have known they would be in demand as they begain taking pre-orders on their website straight after the show. Oh, how I can't wait for next winter...

Magpie Spy 3

Hello dear Magpie followers,

I've fallen in love!

Let me explain.

Ever since I went to my first Marios Schwab show at LFW, I've been mesmerised by him. Creating 'just-got-to-have' pieces, alongside 'how-on-earth-would-you-wear-it-but-i-love-it' items, i've been obsessed with Schwab's genius as a designer. I was over the moon when he was appointed Creative Director of Halston. The revived 70's label needed an injection of Schwab magic and this NY Fashion Week...finally...we've seen the results.

Just look:

Halston AW'10

So you see, i've fallen in love with this dress. I've fallen hard. My only saving grace is that I have until Autumn to save up for it and then it just has to belong to my wardrobe.

Bravo Marios!