London Fashion Week: an outsider’s perspective.
my one and only street-style snap. she’s worth it though, right?
Completely overwhelming. That’s how i’d describe my first fashion week. I walked in to 180 Strand feeling completely out of place, thinking “Should I be here?”. Probably not (please see this interesting article on Bitchbuzz), but I tried to embrace it as much as I could. I had just as much right to be there as any of you girls - and I hope I used the opportunity constructively. Whether fashion bloggers had a place at fashion week is irrelevant - I was there, and tried to make the best of it, even without the Internet. There was no way I could report back with the latest fashion week news, but luckily you had Melle Robot for that. So here I am, offering you an outsiders perspective on what’s like to be at your very first London Fashion Week - turn away now if you’re hoping for an insight on the latest catwalk trends (although please do come back for my late late Charles Anastase review).
1. Everyone is tall and beautiful and has better clothes than you. You can turn up in what you think is your most extravagant going-out attire, and you’ll still look under-dressed. Girls in leotards with big hair, men in dresses, the lot. The crazier you look, the more pictures you’ll be in.
2. People can be really rude, but at the same time, very lovely. As soon as exhibitors see the press lanyard around your neck, they’ll automatically smile and offer you their business card, but first they’ll ask ‘where you’re from’. As soon as they realise you’re from a virtually unknown blog, they’ll probably ask you to stop taking pictures (minus the lovely man from Bodyamr and several other friendly exceptions).
3. Everyone has an iphone/blackberry. No joke. Once again I felt completely out of place (you can play “Snake” on my Nokia). Whilst in the bar waiting for the Charles Anastase show, I couldn’t even count on two hands the amount of people that were, most likely, on twitter. And another thing, people in fashion really do the whole *mwah* kiss on both cheeks thing.
All joking and sarcasm aside, I had a great time, even if I wasn’t there to work as hard as most of the people that had the same press credentials. Cheesy as it sounds, I felt completely inspired. I picked up every business card available & gave out as many as I had, took note of every brand (and some of them are affordable!) that I was sure you were going to love, and for a fashion student (yes, I can say that now!), it was an extremely valuable experience - lets hope that next time i’m visiting the shows and reporting to you from the catwalks to prove I deserved that press lanyard.
Don’t worry, that’s not all i’m going to say about the whole event. What do you take me for? Check back soon for Charles Anastase, Orla Kiely and lots of brands I think you’ll fall in love with. Hope you liked the pictures xx
September 25th, 2009 at 2:24 pm
what a great insight ! I love fashion events but find them so intimidating, everyone really knows how to dress haha
wonderful pics & you look marvellous
x
September 25th, 2009 at 2:29 pm
Gorgeous pictures, as always, and your outfit’s so cute!
I can say the same from all the Fashion Conventions and Fashion Shows I have been in Barcelona, everyone is always looking better than you and you’re no one if you don’t have a model body shape or dress in a spectacular way.
September 25th, 2009 at 2:53 pm
Snake ftw!!! haha. I’m also very excited for your Charles Anastase review!
September 25th, 2009 at 3:14 pm
These pictures are fantastic - do you mind if I ask what camera you use? My little Canon produces really ropey pictures.
I sat a few seats down from you at the BBC show I think, what did you think of it?
I also commented on the slightly anti-bloggers article at Bitchbuzz on my own blog. I think she sees Fashion Week as an exclusive and glamorous club and that it devalues it if people are allowed to come and then they don’t seem sufficiently grateful. As long as it doesn’t interfere with people who are doing it for their jobs I don’t see the problem. People brought their children to shows and no one complained about that.
September 25th, 2009 at 3:40 pm
What a laugh! Great post, lovely read and how nice to come across a fresh perspective on the whole farce that’s the FW phenomenon.
Am off to explore the rest of your blog now…
September 25th, 2009 at 3:41 pm
The photos are so good! I love the style of that girl with shorts =) and your collant are amazing Carrie! where do you buy it???
your look is good too!
September 25th, 2009 at 3:47 pm
Great photos! Your post is so nice to read! I think it is overwhelming indeed but I love to witness it once (or twice, or just a lot!). Never been to fashion week but love to go there some day. In december I’m going to London for the first time so I’m really excited about that! I love your blog btw, it’s amazing
September 25th, 2009 at 4:25 pm
What amazing photos. Happy to see more bloggers at Fashion Week. I just covered New York and went to London last season. It was overwhelming, but probably for different reasons.
September 25th, 2009 at 4:48 pm
So interesting! I love your ‘outsider’ perspective
September 25th, 2009 at 5:19 pm
oh, i really do adore your outfit dear, and those shoes on the first picture are so gorgeous. i really enjoyed reading your outsiders perspective
and oh, that picture is so amazingly beautiful with all the nude coloured frilly vintage style things ♥
September 25th, 2009 at 6:18 pm
You are a lucky girl you know? I wish someday to go at some Fashion Week too
kiss from Portugal***
márcia*
September 25th, 2009 at 7:23 pm
Ahhhh I want press accreditation for the next one (February!) when I’ll acutally have time to use it! Didn’t get it this time, how did you get it? Yes, everyone is so dressed up! Even though I felt overdressed on the bus/tube, I felt underdressed (apart from one time) at the shows.
September 25th, 2009 at 7:47 pm
You looked AMAZING..seriously…Your outfit was the perfect choice..
Love It !!
xx
September 25th, 2009 at 7:54 pm
first of all…you took great pictures!
second…yeah, i felt that same way my first few fashion weeks. i would go back to my hotel room, assume the fetal position, and cry…because people can be very mean.
i don’t know what happened, getting to know a few people helps, or maybe i just don’t care? i care, but yeah, not really. most the mean people are pathetic, and the nice people, well… it’s not enough to see them every six months.
September 25th, 2009 at 8:45 pm
Hahah I love thisss
Your honesty is so refreshingg
You really are so luckyy though, it sounds like such a good experience
I hope you enjoyed it, despite the “outsider” status, which I reckon was more in your head anyway
September 25th, 2009 at 8:51 pm
I love the pictures! I can imagine you would feel a little out of place, so would I, but you diserve to be there as much as any other person! I adore your outfit by the way, I need some polka dotted tights!
September 25th, 2009 at 11:14 pm
Your pictures look lovely, I especially enjoy the first one with the pink ribbon! It sounds like you had a great time, it stinks people were mean, but at least there was the nice people too
September 26th, 2009 at 12:21 am
the pictures are fantastic, thanks for taking them
you so deserve to be there. i totally disagree with the girl, that wrote that article. it seems that shes just angry not her “type” of people were there.
and i adore your outfit! really loving your blog!
September 26th, 2009 at 7:20 am
Your Bitchbuzz article had a lot of insight and yes, it was definitely a conversation starter on twitter
Lovely photos and I’m glad you had a good time and were able to network.
September 26th, 2009 at 7:37 am
Aw, what a wonderful update! And I know exactly how you feel, too– I was recently invited to a Photographer’s Happy Hour my first week in this big new city, and when I showed up I realized I was half the age of everyone there and 1% as successful. Oh well, it’s good contacts and, like you said, definitely an inspiration to be around. Looking forward to your follow-up posts!
September 26th, 2009 at 9:55 am
ooo you look as cute as a button. and i had to laugh at the “i can play snake on my nokia” , i just got a “swedish” phone and i can play “sudoku” on it. I can’t play sudoku. I guess im not so chocked about the “mwa” kisses cause well..im french
Thank you for the “outsider view”, but it seems like you were pretty “in” from my point of view!
September 26th, 2009 at 10:39 am
OMG, you’re soooo lucky !! I love everything, your fresh point of view, your sarcasms, and your magnificent pictures ! Plus you look amazing and so not out of place !
p.s: also have the snake nokia ( but it’s snake iii and very bad ! xD )
September 26th, 2009 at 3:36 pm
Very cool!! Such an awesome experience for you and I’m sure all the other fashion students at your school are jealous. Can’t wait for more.
September 26th, 2009 at 6:45 pm
Such lovely pictures! I’d very intimidated by the other people, but you look amazing so you shouldn’t haha
I love your outsider view of it 
xxxx
September 26th, 2009 at 9:50 pm
omg, i’m so jealous! you’re really lucky!
September 26th, 2009 at 10:16 pm
Okay, first of all…your shoes with the pink ribbons….KILLER! I’m sure people were jealous of those babies, because I am. Where are they from? Or did you ass a ribbon?
Second, i loveeeeeeee those keys!
September 27th, 2009 at 2:24 am
I love your insight x]
…and those shoes with the pink ribbons are VERY COOL
September 27th, 2009 at 6:04 am
I love the first photo, don’t think I could walk in those shoes though! I had a similar experience at the fashion week events I attended in New Zealand - but I couldn’t take ANY photos so well done for getting some!
September 27th, 2009 at 7:02 am
Great shots:X
I luv ur classic look in those outfits girl:X
September 27th, 2009 at 8:51 am
great pictures!
You look so lovely in all black.
September 27th, 2009 at 12:49 pm
Really like the photo’s! Good job <33
September 27th, 2009 at 2:07 pm
Wow amazing pictures!! I wish one day I’ll get a chance to visit LFW too
And amazing blog too, had a “little” browse!! Love your style and writing. Will follow, hope you’ll chek out my newbie amateur blog
x
ps aaaahhaa I have a Nokia 3310 :DD you can’t get much more ancient I suppose.. everybody always laughs at me, but I’m proud of it!!
September 28th, 2009 at 3:15 am
can’t wait! I love orla kiely.
September 28th, 2009 at 8:22 am
Whatever the effect of bloggers on fashion week, I would still totally kill to go. You’re so lucky! I love the picture with all the ruffly sleeves.
September 28th, 2009 at 10:03 am
went through EXACTLY the same thing for nyfw, it’s so ridiculous. p.s. your blog is hardly “unknown”
September 28th, 2009 at 2:37 pm
It comes across in your blog that fashion week was a real eye opener, and loving the innocence with which you protray the week. Here I was thinking only women’s dresses would be on show!
September 28th, 2009 at 8:15 pm
these pictures are fantastic and also the report
September 28th, 2009 at 8:16 pm
You look beautiful and tastefully dressed in pictures, I like them all
September 29th, 2009 at 10:57 am
what to say - i loved them
an you looked stunning in your outfit 
September 29th, 2009 at 4:55 pm
your photos look real good and you are doing your own thing and I believe you deserve to be there, everyone talks a lot on this planet. Whatever. You’re a fashion student!
Let’s get an iphone!:)
it’s so hard to write sms on iphone :/
September 29th, 2009 at 8:50 pm
I totally fall in love with your blog! You’re so gorgeous and you’re outfits are just marvelous !
come visit my blog http://claramarinelli.blogspot.com/
X
October 5th, 2009 at 9:33 am
What a lovely insight and I imagine if I was invited along I would feel pretty much the same. An outsider. Although everyone has to start somewhere….
Did you literally just got an invite through your email then?
Thats what it seems for some other bloggers….
x
October 28th, 2009 at 1:31 am
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