Get Waisted watches London strut its stuff at LFW

So, here we are again! Valentine's is over, romance is dead...but London Fashion Week is here again!  And, dear readers, Get Waisted feels honour bound to let you know what (or who) is up. I even managed to get myself up there for the first day this year with all the attendant hullabaloo. I loved it. What an exciting atmosphere. London is really making its mark - perhaps even leaving traditional top tier events such as Milan Fashion Week trailing (London is expecting to attract over twice as many attendees to its catwalks - importantly including some of the top names who previously favoured Milan). Anyway, enough blowing our own trumpet. I enjoyed the shows from KTZ , PPQ and John Rocha all featured in the image below. The KTZ afterparty was pretty cool too - but hey ho, some of us had work to do so couldn't stay long.

KTZ, PPQ and John Rocha at LFW

As I have discussed here before, fashion is big business for the UK (estimated to be worth about £21billion!) and supporting some 816,000 jobs. Well, it seemed like nearly everyone of those people was in one queue or another on Friday - but it was certainly all worth it. It seems to me that London is getting back its (rightful?) crown that it held for fashion and creativity in the 1960's (and don't you dare go saying "I should know, I was there" - cheek!). With 'A' listers from Rihanna to Tom Ford choosing London this year we have to be doing something right.

Speaking of Tom Ford, who designed for Daniel Craig/James Bond and the Skyfall movie, I have one more piece of news for you. Get Waisted is delighted to again be working with Brighton College and the girls from Fenwick House to present a fashion show in aid of Chestnut Tree House children's hospice. Last year we raised more than £1500 and we aim to smash that record this year. The event is Bond themed and will be lots of fun. Check out the event on Facebook for more details and mark your diary for March 13th.

I think that's all for now fashion fiends. Of course, if you are inspired by something you see on the catwalks and would like your own interpretation don't hesitate to get in touch.

All you need to do is call me (Toni) on 07947 497342 or email Toni@getwaisted.co.uk and Get Waisted would be delighted to help.


Love Toni.

London Fashion Week - Feed the Beast

So, here we are again. New York Fashion Week is in full swing and London gets under way this week. I am really looking forward to seeing catwalk shows for Anya Hindmarch and Louise Gray as well sampling the 'Off-schedule' shows of Jena Theo and Sabina Bryntesson...and as for the after parties..well it would be rude not to wouldn't it?

And just in case you are thinking 'who really cares?', here's a few numbers. Fashion is worth between  £25 and £35 billion (yes billion) to the UK economy. London Fashion Week (LFW) alone contributes £20 million to the London economy and with over 25 years of history is one of the highest profile events in the world. So it is hardly surprising that some major brands want to get on board.

What may be a surprise is just who those brands are. Vodafone is an LFW headline sponsor, Mercedes uses fashion as part of its global marketing platform sponsoring events in over 30 countries and this year Kinder Bueno is heavily involved with the consumer facing London Fashion Weekend (rather than the trade oriented LFW). Marketing Week had a fascinating insight (if you're into these things) into the thinking behind these associations - essentially all are trying to reach out to their target audiences some of whom (women!) have been under-represented in previous deals (esp. Mercedes and Vodafone).

Enough of the business - what's hot? Well from the look of the collections presented for SS2013 in New York we are going to be seeing a lot of prints. I think this is great - you can indulge your inner girlie or go for a vibrant tribal (all the while staying 'on trend' - should you care to do so). Just take a look at this photomontage to see what I mean.

Perhaps the biggest surprise - FLAT SHOES EVERYWHERE. And I mean everywhere. Victoria Beckham, Marc Jacobs and Carolina Herrera were just a few all using catwalk models in flats - who knew? Perhaps we get to look good and feel comfortable too.

At Get Waisted we are really looking forward to picking this one up. There are some wonderful fabrics out there and you don't have to look like a Masai warrior (unless you want to) - just take a little inspiration. All you need to do is call Toni on 07947 497342 or email Toni@getwaisted.co.uk and Get Waisted would be delighted to help.

Lots of love,

Toni

Fashion Weeks - Because they're worth it?

This week I registered to attend London Fashion Week and took a look at what was on offer closer to home at Brighton Fashion Week . However, rather than review the wonders of creativity on show (I am a fan, have run my own catwalk at Brighton Fashion Week and just LOVE London) I set to musing on the value of these events. It's all great fun - but is it important and to whom? Perhaps it is just a navel gazing exercise for fashionistas with little real relevance to the 'real world'.

So, I thought I would try and find out some facts and figures - not normally my forte but, hey, variety is the spice of life (apparently). This is easier for the big events - so let's take a look at London first. Apparently LFW contributes over £20mil to the London economy and generates orders in the region of £100mil. There are visitors from over 25 countries. So, you don't have to care about fashion to appreciate the value.

London is one of the 'Big 4' - the others being New York, Milan and Paris all of which run in the same order each year and each of which has its own character. New York is 'sporty', London edgy, Milan just totally OTT and Paris the home of Haute Couture. However, that doesn't mean that these are the only places vying for a place on the fashion ladder of fame. Indeed there are over 40 Fashion weeks around the world in places as varied as Medellin, Colombia (the mind boggles) to Dubai, Hong Kong, Little Rock Arkansas and Berlin...and Brighton, Sussex of course.

Dubai Fashion Week

Milan Fashion Week

Clearly, there a lot of people trying to get a piece of the action. Good luck to them say I. It is good to see challenges to the big four - especially where they encourage local talent and provide a platform for success and access to world markets for talented people who otherwise may not get a look-in.