The standout moments from London Fashion Week

As one of the biggest weeks in the British fashion calendar draws to a close, the feathers, glitter and frills are still adorning our Instagram feeds at every scroll. 2019’s London Fashion Week saw some iconic sartorial moments take place on the runway, from both established design houses and new fashion names alike. As the very lucky attendees documented every strut for us on their stories, there were some moments that stood out as supreme from the start, and were the subject of much group text gushing from fashion lovers everywhere. It was difficult to nail down which moments will be remembered from this year’s LFW AW19 shows, but here are some of our favourites.

The pink tulle dress at Molly Goddard

While still a relatively new name in British fashion, Molly Goddard shot to international fame last year when her pastel pink tulle dress made an appearance on Villanelle in Killing Eve, one of the biggest shows of 2018. The scene of Jodie Comer smirking in her airy pink gown exploded onto social media, and had everyone asking who designed it. Now, in 2019, there is no doubt who these sugar-spun dream dresses belong to, as Molly Goddard’s LFW show was one of the most highly anticipated of the week. And it did not disappoint, as Goddard updated Villanelle’s get-up for a new season, in a fabulous deeper shade of fuschia pink, with plenty of pomp and frills. The dress, set against the stunning backdrop of the Durbar Court at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, was a dream.

Erdem

Where do we start with Erdem? The red lace maxi creations? The tinsel party dresses? The embroidered suits? The bows, the prints, the sequins, the adornments? In case you couldn’t tell, we were blown away by Erdem’s show. Rich colours, sumptuous textures, with just the right amount of gothic luxury made for a collection that injected some much-needed opulence to London Fashion Week. Stunning.

Chloë Sevigny at Simone Rocha

As an Irish export, we are always on the edge of our seats here at IMAGE ahead of Simone Rocha’s shows at fashion week every year. Her AW19 showing in London did not disappoint, with the feminine frills and silhouettes edged with punky boots and accessories that we’re used to from Rocha coming in spades. Her collections are often cited as what the new feminine looks like for the fashion conscious, and this collection emulated that beautifully. But what was particularly impressive about the show was who the clothes appeared on — Rocha’s show was hailed as a gold standard in runway diversity, featuring models of a spectrum of ages and races. Former model Lily Cole came out of retirement for the show, which also included artist Conie Vallese, film-maker Clara Cullen, singer Evangeline Ling and 80s model Jeny Howorth. But it was style icon Chloë Sevigny who made the biggest impact online, as she strutted down the runway in a white dress, platform heels and dark plum lips.

Pandora Sykes in a £50 Gucci blazer

Journalist Pandora Sykes is always a sought-after street style icon, but her statement at this year’s LFW packed an even bigger punch than usual. Fans of Sykes will recognise her much-loved, vintage puff-sleeved cardigan from her feed making an appearance on the fashion week set, along with a vintage Gucci blazer that she bought for just £50 at London’s Portobello Market. Sykes used her style choices to make an important statement about how fast-fashion and consumerism is affecting the planet. As she said on Instagram, “sustainability isn’t just an ethical concern; it’s a fiscal one”. As many of the pieces shown at London Fashion Week would be well out of reach financially for most onlookers, Sykes showed that you don’t have to spend the cash to look chic.

Related: The ugly side of fast fashion: This is the scary impact it’s having on our world

Anna Wintour and Harper Beckham’s matching bobs

One of the sweeter moments of LFW was seeing the entire Beckham clan seated in the front row for Victoria Beckham’s show at the Tate Britain’s Central Atrium. While her sons were equally style conscious in their own right, it was the littlest Beckham that turned heads at the show — for her hairstyle. Harper Beckham sat on her dad’s lap with a sleek bob, complete with a blunt fringe, which was remarkably similar to her frow neighbour, the legendary Anna Wintour. And it wasn’t just us that noticed the similarity — David Beckham snapped a selfie of the two, looking suitably amused at the twinning pair.

Related: Victoria Beckham strikes gold again for AW19 at LFW 

The Rixo disco

RIXO, famous for their must-have midi dresses and sequinned party outfits, transported show attendees right back to the seventies, with a glittering disco with major Studio 54 vibes. Models (with a very diverse age range, it must be said) did not walk, but rather danced their way round Café de Paris, with guests able to watch from the balconies or head downstairs to see the creations up close. Big hair, glittering make-up and sequinned dresses and jumpsuits have made us extremely excited for a RIXO AW 19.

Natalie B. Coleman’s important statement

While many of LFW’s shows were suitably frivolous and joyful affairs, Co Monaghan native Natalie B. Coleman took on bigger issues in her AW19 showing. In collaboration with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), which supports issues surrounding women’s health and childbirth in developing countries, Coleman’s SISTERS collection took a stand against FGM, with pieces symbolising the strength and beauty of women’s bodies. The collection marked the 25th anniversary of women’s reproductive rights becoming a fundamental human right, which notably influenced our own vote on the eighth amendment here in Ireland in 2018. Standout pieces included uterus motifs, interpretations of vaginas and ovaries, and wedding dresses as a reference to child brides made Coleman’s collection an important and very impactful show.

Richard Quinn

By leaving Richard Quinn’s collection until the last afternoon of the week, LFW, in many ways, saved the best for last. A much-loved designer here at IMAGE HQ, Quinn is one of the most exciting names to come out of the London scene of the last five years, and his unapologetically ostentatious designs have caught the attention of millions — including Queen Elizabeth I, who attended his AW18 show last year; the first time she has attended a commercial runway show. Not bad for a 29 year old. Quinn’s latest direction did not disappoint, with the blooming patterns that we’re used to paired with latex polo necks, eternally-cool trench coats, feathered headpieces and exaggerated puff sleeves. A treat for the eyes.

Mary Katrantzou’s feathered dresses

And finally, the images of Mary Katrantzou’s stunning feathered beings shimmering down the runway will be on our minds for a long time. Inspired by the elements of earth, wind, fire and water, as well as celestial bodies and the power of nature, Katrantzou’s pieces looked suitably out of this world. Movement, texture and ethereal colours were the vibes of her show, with no accessories, statement shoes or OTT make-up needed — the clothes, as they should, spoke for themselves.

Featured image: Jason Lloyd Evans