As a long-time fan of the high street and champion of all things thrifty, I was very excited to be invited to the Look Show this season. The show is based on Look Magazine’s weekly High Street Hottest, turning it into a catwalk display of the best of British fashion for those of us on a budget. And the items featured are current season – unlike the designer shows at Fashion Week, which showcase a season ahead – so you can get your grubby mitts on everything right now. Be still, my beating heart!

The AW11 show was held at the new Westfield Stratford City shopping centre in East London, which thrilled and terrified me in equal measure. Never have I seen so many people desperate for a Primark freebie. Once I’d fought my way through the crowds and reached the show location, I was whisked down the red carpet into the champagne reception. After filling up on canapés (I actually chased a waitress, they were so good), we were taken to the catwalk to be seated. And amazingly, I ended up on the FROW…

FROW hoes Gem, me, Katy and Lily. Not seen – our bottles of mini champagne with straws! Classy.

We were in excellent company with Kelis opposite, Kimberley Pussy Cat Dolls a bit further down and just a few people separating us and a late-coming Alesha Dixon.

I loved Kelis’s Opening Ceremony boots. Hot!

Finally, the plastic floor covering was pulled back (so stylish), the lights remained bright (good for photos) and the music pounded (the soundtrack had Gem and I singing along) as the Look Show AW11 got underway.

Just moments before this, Sarah Harding opened the show. 

I absolutely adore high street fashion so spent most of the show snapping hundreds of photos for closer analysis later. Here are my favourite looks – be warned, there are lots!

Marks and Spencer

Forever 21

Forever 21

Miss Selfridge

Miss Selfridge

Oasis

Oasis

H&M

Monsoon

Monsoon

Mango

Mango

Mango

New Look

New Look

Urban Outfitters

Urban Outfitters

There was so much awesome strutting down the catwalk, if Westfield Stratford City hadn’t been so busy I would’ve probably hotfooted it to the nearest shop, credit card held aloft. Autumn/Winter is my favourite season so it was a joy to see all those snugly cardigans, wedge boots and felt hats parading before my eyes.

Attending the Look Show was definitely one of the highlights of my time at London Fashion Week – not only because of the amazing clothes, free food and booze, celeb spotting and FROWing, but because I met so many wonderful bloggers and had such a giggle with them all. Huge thanks to Lara for sorting my invite – hope I can come back next season!

As day three comes to a close, your reader is probably packed with London Fashion Week posts. So here’s another! Sorry.

I spent a couple of days in the city watching some shows (thanks vitaminwater!), hanging out at Somerset House and generally pretending to be fashionable. Take a look…

What I Wore

Day one: Warehouse maxi skirt, H&M cardigan, boots c/o Sarenza, belt c/o Next, Cambridge satchel
Day two: Topshop top and jeans, Michael Kors leather jacket, Vivienne Westwood shoes c/o Sarenza, ASOS necklace, Cambridge satchel.

I was street style snapped a few times, but my satchel and shoes got far more attention than anything else!

Who I Saw

Grace Woodward and Paloma Faith sitting FROW at Ashish


Ashish SS12

I absolutely adored Ashish’s bright, bold, beautiful looks. The sequinned sunflowers, the mixed prints, the relaxed shapes – the show was a feast for the eyes (and ears – even Grace Woodward was singing along to the awesome soundtrack). Ashish is known for statement design but I can see these pieces filtering down to the high street and being mixed with denim for the everyday.

Jean-Pierre Braganza

In stark contrast to Ashish, Jean-Pierre Braganza showcased sharp tailoring in classic white, black, grey and a pop of pink. I loved the structured jackets and spike heels – a look so easy to replicate with pieces from my own wardrobe. The cute fishtail plaits had me yearning for long hair, too.

What I Did

Projection at Jean-Pierre Braganza

Somerset House

Somerset House is an inspiring location for style – the building is stunning and although they make walking in heels almost impossible, I love the cobbles. Anyone can walk around the grounds during Fashion Week, and many hours can be whiled away just watching the comings and goings of London’s most fashionable.

Bloggers now have their own registration area

The beautiful Susie from Take Out in Couture and gorgeous Jazmine from Jazzabelle’s Diary

The very best bit about Fashion Week is meeting up with so many gorgeous bloggers. The British Fashion Council, who run LFW, changed their approach to bloggers for this season and in some ways, it  meant we were a little left out. Of course, that didn’t stop us getting together to chat, laugh, eat and enjoy ourselves.

The designer exhibition

BFC NEWGEN exhibition 

Exploring the exhibitions is a great way to discover new designers and see the trends for the coming season up close. This season, the jewellery displays seriously impressed me – if I was looking to blow a chunk of cash I don’t have on something bling, it’d be by Mawi or Holly Fulton. The stairwell installation looked amazing, too.

My Fashion Week was fleeting – I spent most of Saturday at Westfield Stratford City for The Look Show, which I’ll tell you about tomorrow – but I thoroughly enjoyed it all the same. Bring on next season!

As New York Fashion Week comes to a close, London is waiting in the wings and practising air kisses for its turn in the style spotlight. Friday 16th September marks the start of London Fashion Week 2011, where the best of British will showcase the biggest trends for SS12. Yes – fashion fans will descend on Somerset House to sit in draughty warehouses during cold and rainy September to watch models flounce about in shorts, sandals and chiffon. Bring it on!

London Fashion Week is a wonderful way to celebrate the fantastic work of British designers, but it’s also dangerously indulgent and if you’re not careful, a few days at Fashion Week can leave a gaping hole in your bank account. One that looks suspiciously like a Mulberry Alexa.

During my time at Fashion Week I’m determined to stay true to my thrifty(ish…) ways, so I’ve put together a slightly tongue-in-cheek guide to surviving Fashion Week on a stylish-but-skint budget. Take a look…

• Got your dress from a charity shop? Picked up those heels at a car boot? Darling, you’re vintage. So when you hear the (inevitable) cries of ‘who are you wearing?’, don’t say ‘errrm… it’s a Topshop dress from 1995 that I found in the dressing up box’ – say ‘vintage’. Preferably while waving your hand in a dismissive way and flouncing. Everyone flounces at Fashion Week.
• If you have an exhibition pass, make your way to the nearest presentation, STAT. Champagne flows freely at presentations and they run all day long, so set up camp inside and enjoy a glass… or five. 
• A week-long diet of M&S salads, Pret sandwiches and itsu sushi will lead to a penniless purse (and possibly bloating). Blag your way into the press lounge to fill up on free nibbles, and don’t forget to stash some in your Alexa for later. Those catwalk shows can drag.
• Don’t waste your makeup by doing your face for Fashion Week – book in for a free Mac makeover and let someone else prepare you for those close ups.
• If you really can’t imagine Fashion Week without a key designer piece, head to TK Maxx and invest in a coat, a bag or a pair of shoes. Do not, I repeat DO NOT blow a month’s wages on snakeskin leather trousers that the sales assistant tells you are ‘sure to make the flash bulbs pop!’. She’s lying.
• And some final words of wisdom from a, ahem, seasoned Fashion Week attendee with a grand total of FOUR shows under her belt – be yourself. The most stylish people are the ones whose clothes reflect their character. So if you’d really feel more comfortable in jeans than snakeskin leather trousers, go ahead and WORK those jeans. I know I will.