Yahoo Lifestyle How to do London Fashion Week like a seasoned Cosmo editor
The most fashionable time of year is finally upon us once more, as the world's biggest style stars convene in the UK capital for London Fashion Week. This time around, it's the AW25 edition in which some of the biggest, buzziest UK-based brands showcase their upcoming collections for next season, packed full of autumn winter fashion trends. Beyond all the important designer runway shows, there are tonnes of pop-ups, events and parties going on to celebrate.
From the names to know and places to go, to the clothes to wear, here's our insider's guide to doing London Fashion Week like a Cosmo editor:
The names to know
With more than 100 designers on show this season, spanning menswear, womenswear and accessories, you'd be forgiven for feeling a little overwhelmed by all the names. Big-hitters like Harris Reed, Burberry, Emilia Wickstead, Simone Rocha and Richard Quinn will all be presenting their latest collections in the capital once again, with the potential for a celebrity runway cameo or two, if previous seasons are anything to go by. But for us, LFW is all about the hot new up-and-comers. The city is best known for introducing the world to boundary-breaking creatives, after all.
The names getting everyone excited this season? Sinéad O'Dwyer, with her refreshing and genuine approach to all-encompassing, true inclusivity; Chet Lo, for his latest take on durian fruit-inspired knitwear; Tolu Coker, for her inevitably joy-sparking, colour-filled, West African-inspired clothes; Annie's Ibiza for drama-filled evening wear and a celeb-filled FROW, and Dilara Findikoglu.
Alongside the aforementioned names, standout shows included Mithridate which, under the new creative direction of Daniel Fletcher, presented a supremely wearable edit of modern tailoring, elevated with pops of polka dot and fun tassel detailing. Abigail Ajobi's LFW debut similarly impressed with her trademark use of print-based designs, created from solely upcycled and deadstock materials, to tell a story that addressed important social issues based on her own experiences growing up in London. And finally, Sinead Gorey rebranded the ‘walk of shame’ into a ‘walk of fame’ thanks to a partnership with KFC (the designer's favourite chicken shop) that saw models eating burgers from the fast food chain as they strutted down the runway while wearing hats and fascinators from Lock & Co., hatters with a Royal Warrant.
What to wear
Dressing for London Fashion Week is always tricky, even for us seasoned pros. You want to look stylish, but not like you've tried too hard. You want to nail the hottest trends, without going broke in the process. And most importantly, you *have* to be comfortable. For as tempting as it might be to put on your most fabulous heels for the occasion, if you're going to be doing back-to-back shows for 12 hours straight, you'll need to still be able to walk by the end...
We recommend sticking to flats for the daytime, and with ballet pumps, funky trainer collabs and UGGs bang on trend RN, you won't have to compromise on looking cool in the process. As for the clothes, don't just blindly follow the latest trends without thinking about what you actually feel comfortable in – being true to your own style and feeling confident are much more important than box-ticking. It's mostly influencers, celebs and street style stars who go full peacock mode for Fashion Week, while editors and industry insiders tend to dress a little more low-key. Think oversized tailoring, quality jeans and classic tees elevated with designer sunnies, fun bags, a great coat and statement jewellery.
You don't have to – and really shouldn't – spend lots of money to look stylish, either. Rather than panic-shopping for last-minute pieces that you'll likely never wear again, why not scratch that ‘new clothes’ itch by renting something fabulous on By Rotation (who this year turned their rental retail space into ‘The Green Room’, a space for LFW guests to execute an outfit change and enjoy a moment of calm between shows with salads from The Salad Project and smoothies courtesy of Elevate) or Rites instead? eBay's Pre-Loved section is also an insider-favourite treasure trove of second-hand designer goods for a fraction of the usual price (and minus the fast-fashion footprint).
The places to go
Where's the team this season? All over, but we particularly loved these spots...
180 Strand
This season, the main show space was right on the bustling Strand in Central London. Plenty of people rock up without tickets just to stand outside and people watch, or snap a few outfit inspo pics. Expect to see lots of wild outfits, gaggles of paparazzi and PRs working the door in all black.
Alo Oasis
Building on last season's success, Alo Yoga returns as the Official Wellness Partner of London Fashion Week. Taking over 1Hotel Mayfair to create a serene retreat designed to bring Los Angeles’ wellness culture to London, the fitness and wellness brand is offering mindful movement classes led by Alo instructors, state-of-the-art wellness experiences, and beauty treatments. It's as close to heaven as it gets, tbh.
Levi's Lounge
Our fave denim brand has turned Haus of Strauss into a pop-up lounge for guests to drop in and hang out between shows and events. As well as enjoying food from Rahel Stephanie (better known as @eatwithsp00ns) and DJ performances, you can get tooth gems from Chai Beauty as well as ear seeding treatments from Herbar, all while browsing the newest denim collection. The XL Superwide Jeans are officially our new fave silhouette, sorry barrel legs.
The Resident Victoria Hotel
When you're getting home in the wee hours from after parties, a crash pad in Central London is realllly helpful to save time and get as much shut-eye as you can. Our fashion team has previously stayed at The Resident Victoria, a quick cab ride from the main show space. The feeling of sinking into one of their comfy, fluffy, king-sized beds is unbeatable. A cup of tea, your comfort show on the TV, and the hotel's super-fast WiFi is all you need to get some last-minute reporting done before heading out for the day. The Resident's team of “Insiders” recommended fuelling up for the day at Timmy Green, an Australian-owned eatery one block away, and it didn't disappoint. Scrambled eggs on charcoal sourdough, crispy bacon, a berry smoothie, and a couple of coffees provided delicious energy for a full day of shows.
Goldie's London
On the topic of good eats, may we recommend Goldie's? The brand-new, wood-fired resto inside Soho's Kingly Court is well-placed for a team lunch or dinner (and a stylish crowd to boot.) We loved: the padron peppers, deep-fried courgette flowers with ricotta, every skewer they had going, and the more-ish green beans with peaches and burrata. Not to mention their stun cocktail menu, including one very special Mezcal Basil Caipirinha with passionfruit. Don't skip the dessert menu, either.
You can browse the full programme of London Fashion Week City Wide Celebration events here.
How to travel
As much as we love London's public transport, it's not exactly the most reliable nowadays (hello, endless strikes!) – and don't even get us started on the weather's habit of serving us wind and rain when we least expect it. So, for editors with a packed schedule of shows and events that are often dotted across the capital, a private car is an absolute must. Plus, nothing quite beats the glamour of rolling up to a venue in a top-of-the-range, shiny new chauffeur-driven car... Which is why Cosmo editors rely on Blacklane to get them reliably from venue to venue stress-free – and in serious style.
The premium chauffeur service has a fleet of top-end Mercedes-Benz, Audi and BMW cars at its disposal, easily bookable through an app for as many hours as you need, and complete with smartly suited drivers who take even the most hectic LFW schedules in their stride. Even better, all rides are carbon offset so you can travel guilt-free – and Blacklane operates in all major world cities, so they're a sure-fire saviour for Milan, New York and Paris Fashion Weeks too.
Editors' tips
To ensure a fun and fuss-free London Fashion Week, make sure to check out our team's final few top tips below.
A portable charger is a must-have in your rented designer bag, you'll be surprised just how quickly your battery dwindles down to nothing after snapping away and filming just one or two shows.
Tempting as it might be to subsist on pre-show canapés and cocktails alone, we recommend making time to have a proper meal whenever there's a break in your schedule. As a worst-case scenario, stock up your car and/or bag with drinks and snacks. Staying well-fed and hydrated is essential.
A sure-fire way to feel instantly put-together and camera-ready is to treat yourself to a blow-dry and manicure right before LFW kicks off. Plus, it's one less thing to think about when you're getting ready during one of the busiest weeks of the year.
It might not be chic, but always make sure you have a brolly and sunglasses. The Great British weather is unpredictable at best, and this way you'll be prepared for rain or shine.
Shows almost always run late, but it's best to make sure you arrive and are seated at the scheduled start time. Make the most of delays by chatting to those around you – for those who have worked in the industry for a while, it's a nice opportunity to catch up with friends and colleagues. And, if you don't know your show neighbour, it could be the perfect networking moment.
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