The London Fashion Week circus rolls into town from 20 February and with it comes a sea of colour and couture. For those not hanging out on the FROW, there’s plenty going on in London to feel part of the action
1 Shop designer accessories
The British Fashion Council and eBay have announced that they will be running BFC Contemporary Shop on eBay for the second season. The pop-up online shop will open this month to coincide with London Fashion Week AW15 and will give shoppers access to limited-edition accessories created by the design talent participating in the BFC Contemporary initiative between 20 February and 11 March. The online boutique will feature exclusive clutch-bag-turned-tablet-cases and silk scarves that capture each designer’s unique aesthetic. Created by four BFC Contemporary supported designers: Alexis Barrell, Georgia Hardinge, PAPER LONDON and Zoë Jordan, all items are under £100.
2 Click for Clicquot
It wouldn’t be London Fashion Week without oodles of Champagne and Veuve Clicquot’s new gifting app is the coolest way to send a bottle of Champers to a friend or someone you’re trying to impress. Select a participating bar or restaurant and instantly send a bottle of Veuve Clicquot to the person of your choice, with a text or selfie to let the recipient know that a bottle with their name on it is waiting. Quaglino’s, Hix at Selfridges, Mr. Fogg’s, Bart’s, Cartizze Bar, Eclipse and St Pancras Renaissance Hotel are all using the app, which is available download from the iTunes store.
3 Eat like a model
Arnaud Stevens Chef Patron at Sixtyone restaurant in South Marylebone has created a waistline-friendly lunch menu for London Fashion Week, which includes braised octopus with avocado, pine nuts and wood sorrel, steamed salmon with baby spinach, pickled apple and crispy kale and braeburn apple with speculoos biscuit and coconut oil sorbet. The menu has been designed to give you plenty of energy to rush between shows and parties all day.
4 Be a power woman
To celebrate London Fashion Week and the Design Museum’s Women Fashion Power exhibition, W Hotel London is hosting a Women Fashion Power Afternoon Tea from 20 to 24 February. Pastry chef Rachel Newman has drawn inspiration from the likes of Coco Chanel, Lady Gaga, Vivienne Westwood and even Elizabeth I (there’s no denying that ruffle is anything but powerful), for her menu, which will be served on a heel-shaped tea stand. The W/ Fashion Power Tea is served daily in the W Lounge from 2pm-5pm, for £27.50. W London is also offering a Tea & Ticket package, where guests can enjoy both the Power Tea and entry to the Design Museum exhibition for £38.50.
5 Breakfast and braids at sketch
Sketch near Oxford Circus will be hosting a pop-up breakfast salon and braid bar in its Glade room throughout London Fashion Week. For £15 per person you can have an express breakfast and get your hair coiffed ready for the front row. Breakfast includes a choice of muesli or fruit salad, tea or coffee, juice and a croissant.
6 London Fashion Weekend
The ever-popular Vodafone London Fashion Weekend returns to Somerset House from 26 February to 1 March. The four-day fashion pop-up is a chance for the general public to shop pieces by British and international designers who often sell their clothes at a discounted price. Along with the stalls are Design Catwalk Shows, which this year include SIBLING, Jean Pierre Braganza, Amanda Wakeley and Fyodo Golan. The Outnet.com will be on hand with Trend Catwalk Shows, showing visitors how to turn fashion trend highlights into everyday outfits and there will be Industry Talks with secrets from some of the fashion world’s top experts.
7 Soak up the stars
Quaglino’s in Mayfair has created a star-studded menu of cocktails inspired by the catwalk’s greatest strutters. Opt for Evangelista’s Touch (a twist on the classic American whiskey sour, treated with rich
Evangelist Ratafia, Marquis Vodka, shaken with fresh lemon juice and sugar syrup served over cubed ice with an Evangelist float) or a Heidi Plum (Miclo Mirabelle Plum brandy combined with lime, fresh mandarin and elderflower with a Pedro Ximenez float. Served straight up).
8 Tea with Matthew Williamson
British designer Matthew Williamson has crafted a Fashion Week afternoon tea that will be served at Balthazar over London Fashion Week and right up until May 2015. Inspired by Matthew Williamson’s SS15 collection, the pretty-as-a-picture tea includes smoked chicken, egg mayonnaise and cucumber sandwiches followed by Irish buttermilk scones with clotted cream and strawberry jam, topped off with a selection of colourful pastries reminiscent of Williamson’s flair for pretty designs. Chasing Rainbows, a cocktail named after David Bailey’s book featuring photographs of model Marie Helvin and the inspiration behind Williamson’s collection is also on offer. It’s made with Pinky vodka, Lillet Blanc, yellow Chartreuse, brut Champagne and crystallised rose petals.
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