Fashion Week Feet

The style guide for fashion week footwear: anything but boring. I took some snaps of the shoes on the cobblestones at Somerset House at London Fashion Week.

Alex//FashionWeek//QuickPaintings

eldrawings

Meet Alex, she’s my girlfriend. Aside from being the best person I know blah blah blah (she better be reading this) she went to London Fashion Week last weekend. She had the best time and, from some of the photographs I’ve seen, it looked fantastic.

I was on the phone to her one night before she went away whilst watching the mighty spurs lose another football match and just doodling – who says guys can’t multi task… That’s 3 things at the same time and I think I was eating Jaffas and breathing so make it 5. I found a biro down the back of the sofa and without really thinking I was just drawing her at fashion week – loaded up with bags whilst trying to look vaguely stylish herself.

This won’t ever sell for a million quid I know, but there’s something so satisfying from creating a reasonably…

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London Fashion Week on a Choo String. Post #2: Free Stuff

Whether they’re in the designer showrooms, left on your seat beside the catwalk or simply on the street outside the tents, there are loads of freebies to be had at London Fashion Week. Eating in London is rarely cheap, so turning down any free goodies is a big mistake. At fashion week this year, not only is there free popcorn and ‘beauty drinks,’ but also manicures, blow drys, make up applications and other treats. Brands, fashion or otherwise, are happy for you to take an interest in them, so there is no reason to feel guilty when grabbing their giveaways. A tweet or a blog post about their product is thank you enough. Don’t underestimate any lookbooks, leaflets or press packs that might be thrust your way. If a brand makes it big the information will be useful and if not they are excellent moodboard material. Bars and hotels around venues are also often keen to welcome you into their establishments, with areas to charge your phone and free wifi. When visiting these or press lounges, take advantage of the coffee machine and the refreshments table. My basic rule for free stuff at events is don’t turn it down, if anything take two.

London Fashion Week on a Choo String. Post #1: Preparation

One day you will be working for a flashy magazine. You will have a private car to take you to your hotel and some lovely hired help to carry your luggage. You will swan around heading to the most exclusive shows, while putting your lunches on expenses and graciously accepting free gifts and goody bags. Today is not that day.
If, like me, you have been lucky enough to grab tickets to London Fashion Week, but not quite lucky enough to have someone funding your trip, this blog is here for you. ‘London Fashion Week on a Choo string,’ will give you all the tips you need to enjoy the shows without wasting money.

#1 Preparation
1. Book ahead.
Most hostels aren’t as bad as their reputation. I often find that they are better kept than most cheap hotels and definitely worth the pound-saving for only a couple of nights. Private rooms usually still come in cheaper than a bargain hotel and you can sometimes select a room with an ensuite. The key benefit of staying in a hostel is that you can afford to be central. This means that you can hop to wherever the fashion action is happening and keeps travel expenses to a minimum.
This tip also applies to trains. The earlier you book, the cheaper your journey will be. If your trip involves lots of changes, be sure to check if buying numerous singles instead of one ticket would be less expensive. If you can, book your return journey in advance too.

2. Travel light.
Carrying a huge bag on the tube is the opposite of fun. The reason Victoria Beckham always looks so glamorous coming out of the airport is due to the team of people behind her, rather unglamorously lugging all her outfits around. Essentials: phone, camera, chargers, tablet, underwear. Plan each outfit, down to the socks to ensure you don’t have to cram anything unnecessary in. Don’t forget a compact mirror and any hair/beauty accessories to make you stand out. A few loose hairbands will not go amiss, as you can tie back your ‘do as you rush around town without ruining it.

3. Give in to your mates.
They are always offering you a kip on their sofa when you come to town, or asking to cook you dinner, so take them up on it! Don’t be a sponge, but keep telling yourself that you’d do the same for them – because you would!

4. Make a schedule.
As you have made the effort to travel to the city and are probably paying for accommodation, make the most of your time. Pack in as much fashion as you can. Writing a timetable will help you keep track of where you need to be and when you need to be there.

Evelyne Aymon – avant garde headbands

This shop in the Northern Italian town of Bergamo is seriously pushing the boundaries between headband and hat with their innovative designs. With everything from stuffed lobsters to chocolate bars stuck on them, these accessories are anything but average. On a long street of shops, Evelyne Aymon’s window stands way out. Rubber animal masks replace manikins to display unique hair adornments. The interior is all neon lights and cherry blossom with headbands stacked along the walls. I chose a traditional floral crown, with each flower made from wool and beautifully knitted. Truly a fashion tourism must-see.