What to expect at the Autumn/Winter London Fashion Week 2018

Eleanor
Published: February 8, 2018

London Fashion Week is one of the 5 most recognised fashion weeks worldwide ranking second in the "big 4" series. LFW is the bi-annual event that captivates not only the British public but the world with its showcase of bold and adventurous designers as well as fashion icons such as Burberry and Vivienne Westwood.

Rochambeau FW17 Mens NYFW

Rochambeau FW17 Mens NYFW / Shutterstock.com

Last year London Fashion Week changed locations moving the show space of LFW and London Collections to The Store Studios, central London, as well as having shows in the Ambika P3 show space on Marylebone Road. They also decided for London Fashion Weekend to be more accessible to the public changing it to the London Fashion Week Festival running in the days after LFW giving the fashion loving public the ability to watch designer catwalk shows and shop from an array of well-known brands.

Autumn/Winter London Fashion Week 2018 Dates and Schedule:

The AW18 LFW officially starts on Friday the 16th of February but events such as private invite-only shows and parties are being held on Thursday the 15th. The AW18 LFW finishes on Tuesday the 20th with a varied amount of shows, presentations, events and appointments throughout each of the 5 days. The list of shows is long - featuring designers such as Burberry, Preen by Thornton Bregazzi and Temperley London. The main fashion week dates are not open to the public (unless you are a blogger or influencer that meets the strict application requirements) but you will be able to see most of the catwalks on the website after they have happened. At last years AW17 LFW, we saw a lot of dark plaids as well as subtle pastel shades, block black and white pieces and some floral prints. Leather was also featured largely throughout AW17 LFW and FW17 NYFW with fur making its annual comeback. A lot of the pieces featured in last years walks quickly became go-to staple style pieces for last years winter wardrobe, keeping us excited to see what this year will have in store.

Nicholas K FW17 NYFW

Nicholas K FW17 NYFW / Shutterstock.com

London Fashion Week Festival 2018

The London Fashion Week Festival is an opportunity for the public to get a glimpse of Fashion Week and to shop popular brands with exclusive discounts. The event starts Thursday 22nd of February and finishes Sunday the 25th. The prices for entry ranges for different types of packages: festival entry (which is entry into the event with no shows or talks included) is £20, the silver package is £45 and includes event access, 1 catwalk entry (pick either designer or trend), a limited edition tote bag and industry insider talks, the gold package includes event access, trend and designer catwalk shows, limited edition tote bag and insider talks and is £60, to guarentee seats at the talks you can purchase talk bolt-on tickets which are £10 each.

If you are looking for a little more from the festival you can purchase the VIP LUXE tickets. The Luxe package is £145 and it gives you access to the LUXE lounge with prosecco reception, you will have priority event access, front row seats at the trend catwalk, you will get a style talk from an industry expert, a designer tote bag and private till point access with a shopping concierge service.

The Luxe Premium tickets are £200 (Thursday PM only) and give you priority event access, access to the LUXE lounge, a prosecco reception with Caroline Rush the CEO of the British Fashion Council, front row seats to a designer catwalk as well as an intimate Q&A with the designer, a designer tote bag and access to the private till point with shopping concierge service.

Jisu Hong Nicholas K FW17 NYFW

Jisu Hong Nicholas K FW17 NYFW / Shutterstock.com

The designer catwalks are by Zandra Rhodes (A colourful, eccentric and iconic designer, styling everyone including Hollywood royalty. You will get to see a large range of her "wearable dreams" and Luxe Premium ticket holders will have the change to quiz her on her long and legendary career in fashion in the exclusive Q&A at the Luxe lounge. The Zandra Rhodes catwalk is on Thursday 22nd) and NICOPANDA (A new york based street brand that presents colourful, edgy and playful ready-to-wear fashion with innovating hyper-active philosophies. Launched by Nicola Formichetti a world-famous stylist who has worked with icons such as Lady Gaga, NICOPANDA is currently ruling the sportswear world, you won't want to miss this show. The NICOPANDA catwalk is on Saturday 24th) and the trend walks are vintage vacations, new wave and cybersports, keeping you up to date and ready for this spring/summer's trends.

The shopping experience features 150 well-known brands including Ragged Priest, Accessorize, Emily Carter London, Never Fully Dressed and House of Sunny. If you have purchased a Luxe or Luxe Premium ticket you will have access to a private till point, cutting possible long queues in the normal access till areas. You will also have access to a shopping concierge service to help you decide on what to buy or help you carry all of your purchases.

The talks are a great way to get an insight into a particular topic and this year you have a lot to choose from. You can book talk tickets before or after you have purchased your main entry tickets by going to the LFWF website.

Thursday 22nd

Food for thought: Deliciously Ella, Ella is discussing the power of healthy eating and giving healthy lifestyle tips, Sheerluxe Panel: Making the trends wearable, Sheerluxe alongside a panel of fashion and lifestyle bloggers discuss how to make this year's trends wearable for you.

Friday 23rd

In conversation with Daphne Guinness, a talk with the model, musician and muse, Sheerluxe in conversation with Trinny Woodall, Founder Georgie Coleridge Cole speaks to fashion expert Trinny Woodall, Fashion Forecasting, Blogging and styling, Elle's fashion editor Harriot Stewart joins blogger Lucy Williams and brand consultant Alicia Waite to discuss the future of fashion, Orla Kiely: A life in pattern, with the fashion and textile museum, Dennis Nothdruft joins Orla Kiely to discuss her exhibition at the fashion and textile museum.

Saturday 24th

Careers in Fashion, a panel discussion with some of the industry's biggest names about the importance of business in fashion, How to Capture your audience in the Digital age, Niomi Smart a popular lifestyle blogger and Youtuber talks about lifestyle, fashion and health, Meet the designer: Markus Lupfer, the designer of the iconic sequined lips jumper talks about how he built his successful career.

Sunday 25th

Menswear Revolution: Darren Skey, discussing the transformation of menswear, The rivival of Fiorucci: in conversation with Janie Schaffer, the CEO discusses the history and relaunch of the legendary italian label, In Conversation with Jim Chapman, one of YouTube's leading influencers and contributing editor at GQ magazine speaks about his style and how he quickly became of the most documented faces at London Fashion Week Men's, The Gal-Dem collective: how to set up an independant magazine, a talk with the distributers of Gal-Dem, a platform for women and non-binary people of colour to write and express themselves, Toni&Guy: SS18 hair trends, the artistic directors walk through this season's go-to hair trends.