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Former Emmerdale star Natalie Anderson shares her highlights from Day 4 of London Fashion Week
It was another day of madness running around London!! However I saw some of my favourite pieces of the whole week as I visited Georgia Hardinge, Danielle Romerill and Huishan Zhang all before stopping off for a quick pamper session and blow dry at the Bardou pop up blow dry bar at the MontCalm hotel and then heading over to the Crossover East jewellery party.
1st Event
Georgia Hardinge Presentation at the Elms Lesters Painting Rooms.
To start the day I made my way across to the Elms Lesters Painting Rooms on Flitcroft St which has been a hub of activity over the last three days of fashion week, showcasing designers such as Edeline Lee and Steventai. However today I was viewing the Georgia Hardinge and Miuniku presentations. First up was Georgia's which I adored! Inspired by the Zodiac Hardinge incorporated symbols of Scorpio, Gemini and Cancer in intricate laser and pleating techniques.
Her passion for shapes and sculpture is highly reflected in her designs, creating 3D textures with a pleat specialist to create her now signature look. Although the pieces can be considered architectural in design they are considerably feminine and this particularly collection in its 70's colour palette of Ivory, yellow and deep orange was wearable and beautifully considered.
I also loved how Georgia covered walls in fine layers of paper, blown upwards by industrial fans to create a 3D effect as the backdrop for her presentation accentuating her designs as the models walked the space.
The collection named 'Dynasty' was elegant and inventive with the fine laser detail being my favourite element. After watching her presentation I then got to meet Georgia herself, which was a real pleasure as we talked about her inspiration.
I really loved so much about this collection and have definitely added to Georgia to my 'ones to watch' list!
Here are my favourite pieces
Outfit 1
For my first outfit I decided to opt for something that was a little more relaxed than the previous days, however back to my favourite colour way, monochrome. I think as my love affair with all things Chanel began at quite a young age and monochrome has always been their signature look, it's always my go to when I want to feel presentable and ready for the day and so today I opted for a black knitted tank top from Zara with an intricately knitted white skirt from Lipsy, accessorised with my now favourite Asos strappy stilettos.
Shop The Look!
Top: Zara zara.com @zaraofficial
Skirt: Lipsy lipsy.com @lipsylondon
Shoes: Asos asos.com @asos
2nd Event
Miuniku Presentation at the Elms Lesters Painting Rooms
My second stop of the day thankfully didn't require any dashing around as the Miuniku presentation was also held at the Painting Rooms. Miuniku is the brain child of Mumbai raised sisters Tina and Nikita. Recent graduates of the London college of Fashion the pair were awarded the special Jury prize at the 2014 LVMH prize for Young Fashion Designers. Aptly named 'Before the Digital Age' the Miuniku collection incorporated silhouettes from the 60's&70's set against a hologram backdrop.
Focusing on elements such as cassette tapes, vinyl records and volume buttons and inspired by the works of artists Ellsworth Kelly and Tacita Dean the design duo created a retro-futuristic feel. Although a significantly smaller presentation to any of the others I'd seen over the past few days, the collection was coherent and well put together, I particularly loved the patent footwear which was accentuated by the hologram embellished walls and really captured the 1960's spirit.
3rd Event
Danielle Romerill Presentation at the BFC Presentation Space, The Institute of Contemporary Arts
After watching both presentations at the Painting Rooms, I then jumped in a cab and headed towards the Institute of Contemporary Arts to the official British Fashion Council presentation space to catch the Danielle Romeril show. Graduating with an MA from the Royal College of Art, Irish born Romeril was then selected to work at Alberta Ferrati's studio in Rome before launching her own label with her S/S2013 collection. The label which is currently supported by Topshop and the British Fashion Council as part of the NEWGEN scheme is stocked in 10 countries worldwide.
Palm motifs and layering were the stand out elements of this collection as models posed against wooden backdrops adorned with fine plastic pleating creating an indoor garden effect.
Tones of black, pale pink and green were used to create a retro feel within the collection (a running trend throughout the whole week) enhanced by Harry Belafontes 'Shake Señora-Jump in line ' soundtrack. Silhouettes were relaxed with oversized trousers and boxed jackets and tops layered with fine organza dresses.
It was an interesting collection with my favourite piece being a heavily printed trench coat.
Here are my other favourite pieces.
I was also give backstage access so got to see all of the prep than goes on before the presentations!!
4th Event
Bardou Pop Up Blow Dry bar at the Montcalm Hotel.
After the presentations I then got in yet another cab up to the Montcalm hotel for a little bit of pampering before seeing my next collection.
I was treated to a gorgeous blow dry and a glass of champagne by the lovely team at Bardou at their pop up blow dry bar before they hosted a night of fashion at the gorgeous Montcalm hotel. It was so nice to actually sit down for 5 minutes and the team were all so lovely.
The Bardou concept was born from acclaimed hairstylist Adee Phelan. The idea that as the rise in popularity of the blow dry increases, Bardou can set up a pop up blow dry bar anywhere, with their first Express Blow dry Bar recently opening in Kensington, however they are now set to expand across the UK. I absolutely loved my hair when the stylist Sian had finished it and felt very ready to proceed into the evening with my new glamorous look!
2nd Outfit
As I now had new bouncy blow dried hair and was attending some lovely events in the evening I decided to change into a look that was more suited to the evening ahead and so I changed into a tailored black Lavish Alice dress and black strappy sandals, accessorised with rose gold jewellery and a nude patent clutch.
Shop The Look!
Dress: Lavish Alice lavishalice.com
Shoes: Asos asos.com
Jewellery: Rebecca, Hollywood collection rebecca.it
5th Event
Huishan Zhang Presentation Grosvenor Cresent Mews
After being treated to my lovely pamper session I jumped in yet another cab ( fastly becoming my favourite mode of transport during this Fashion a Week!) and headed 15 mins toward the Grovesnor Cresent Mews where the Huishan Zhang presentation was being held.
I was so excited to see this collection up close as I'm a huge fan of Zhang as a designer. A graduate of Central St Martins and formerly working for Dior in the couture atelier, he formed his label upon his graduation. His signature intricate detailing and modern femininity was highly present in this collection with delicate lace, pleats and feathers accentuating 1960's ladylike shapes.
Chinese born Zhang created a feeling of opulence and luxury as the presentation itself took place in a beautiful townhouse with huge windows and mirrors, accentuated with coffee tables furnished with hydrangea centrepieces and fashion and lifestyle books whilst waiters poured glasses of champagne for his excited audience.
This collection was definitely one of my most favourite of all of the designers this week as firstly I was able to admire the exquisite detail of every piece up close as many of the garments were hung on beautiful clothes rails and secondly the intricacy and femininity combined with the structure and shape of each design was just gorgeous! Zhangs work with Dior was very much apparent as lady like chic reigned supreme in this stunning collection all accessorised with 60's Perspex knee boots.
Here's my favourite pieces.
To end the day I then popped over to the Crossover East jewellery party before finally heading home after what had been yet another manic day of this spring summer fashion week. Thankfully I've got a much easier day for day 5, which includes several exhibitions and looking at LFW street style.
See you tomorrow
Natalie Xx