I met Audrey Hepburn on Day Three of London Fashion Week at a fashion party in Somerset House. As we all know Audrey is a style icon, so what could be a better way to inspire the next couple of days of Oxfam London Fashion Week challenge?
Photo credit: Paul Allen
It's been my best day of the week so far. It started off with the Prophetik show first thing in the morning at Vauxhall Fashion Scout. I brought my daughter to the show so she could see that it is possible to have high fashion that is responsible about its impact on the earth's resources.
The show was followed by a particularly hilarious episode of trying to find a restaurant in Covent Garden that would seat a party of 10 without a lunch reservation (contrary to popular belief, the fashion set do eat). Then it was off to the Ecoluxe exhibition, which was a great opportunity to discover some new sustainable designers pitched at the luxury end of the market. Susie Lau, fashion blogger, hosted a small reception at the Estethica showroom in Somerset House.
This is Estethica's sixth year to have a dedicated space at London Fashion Week and according to Estethica's founder and curator Orsola de Castro, it is the strongest year yet. Some eyebrows have been raised over the weekend at how severely scaled down the showroom is in comparison to past seasons.
However, the labels who have crystalised their business models and who have the broadest international appeal are showing this year such as Ada Zanditon, Patachuti, Junky Styling, Henrietta Ludgate and Joanna Cave. These designers are definitely market-ready and should orders from buyers from the Middle East or China come in, they'll be in a place to deliver.
Now for the rundown on what I wore on Day Three of the challenge:
Oxfam: The dress is by Biba and it is from the Oxfam Vintage Collection.
Vintage: The Lanvin shoes were a gift and a charity shop find.
Heritage: The earrings and the ring were a gift from my mother on my wedding day. These were passed down to her from my grandmother. The ring was designed by my grandfather which he had made by a jeweller in Manila just before the Second World War. The earrings belonged to my grandmother's mother. My grandparents lost a lot during the Japanese occupation, but my grandmother was able to save these small jewels when they were evacuated from Manila to the countryside.
Challenge cheats: The tights are new and from House of Holland.