LFW: Vauxhall Fashion Scout Ones to Watch

In true London Fashion Week style Vauxhall Fashion Scout’s Ones to Watch showcase got off to a half-hour late start. Press, buyers and fashionistas sweltered as they waited in one of the Freemasons Hall’s many high-ceiling vestibules, but once ushered through, obediently settled on long white benches.

First up was London College of Fashion MA graduate LiLee who’s Spring/Summer ’11 collection comprised of flowing Grecian style white silk dresses creating billowing silhouettes, some pleated, some with small detailed geometric prints, moss green collars and the odd chunky gold necklace. Tony & Guy had put their hair straightners to good use on the long-haired models and make-up, by Angela Davis Deacon, was barely there. LiLee, who showed her MA collection at the V&A in January where she received the Highly Commended prize, has since completed a diffusion collection for ASOS, available this autumn.

Next, Charlotte Taylor, a Central Saint Martin’s graduate who left her job at Luella and set up her eponymous label in February this year with a collection inspired by grannies, bird ladies and penguins. Her Spring/Summer ’11 was equally eye-catching but also softly feminine inspired by vintage robots, sail-making and copper and rust – a personal favourite was the orange space invader print dresses. Denim blue was used for dresses with cut-out shapes and shorts paired with a moss green velvet jacket. Blue and red straps hung down over shoulders attached to beige-creamy cotton dresses.

Third to show was menswear designer A.Hallucination, Central Saint Martin graduates Hwan-Sung Park and Chung-Chung Lee offering tailoring for the ‘modern English dandy’ along with sizable leather bags by Jarah Stoop. Colours were muted earthy greys, dark greens and blues. The designs seemed very wearable, for men on the move. Brown tapered trousers, navy blazers with duffle coat buttons and white and beige cotton shorts.

Last up was Paris Parsons’ graduate Georgia Hardinge who set up her eponymous label in February 2009, exhibiting her first collection with ON/OFF at LFW last year. Her structural, landscape-inspired designs are already a hit with the music crowd – Alesha Dixon, The Saturdays and Little Boots have all worn her dresses. Today she continued with strong designs combining punk and French Romanticism influences – extravagantly ruffled off-white and lemony floor-length dresses alongside black mesh sleeveless and strapless mini-dresses. A full-length figure-clinging grey and white digi-print dress really stood out as did black high-waisted knickers underneath a black transparent boned dress. Plaited feathery ruffles were also found adorning the models’ heads – like Grecian wreaths – and shoe heels.

Spotted At The Show

Fashionista Henry Conway who had a front row seat.

Actress Annabelle Wallis (right) – the face of Georgia Hardinge’s Spring/Summer 2011 collection – and singer/songwriter Francesca Bergami (left) both wearing Georgia Hardinge.

And Spooks actor Max Brown with girlfriend, model Annabelle Horsey.

Photos: Julia Rebaudo