LFW SS14 Day 1

My second favourite week of the year is back again! Yes, today's the first day of LFW SS14- and we have 5 days of tube mayhem, avant garde street style and long pre-show queues ahead of us!

So, what did today have in store for us? Well, lots of rain for starters, but also flashes of pastels, monochromes, metallic and bright primaries to cheer us up nicely!

Image- www.Theupcoming.co.uk

First, it was off to J. JS Lee, who also kept models complexions bare, with a bold fuchsia pink lip as the only focus. I love this pink- not too bright or garish, more of a rosé-tone which could easily be adapted to suit any skin tone. With simple make up, simple hair follows- this time as a sleek pony tail complete with deep side part.

 Central St. Martins graduate Jackie Lee, was inspired by the movement of Jellyfish for this collection, which featured not only the monochrome trend we regularly saw at NYFW but flashes of turquoise and dusky pink. This popular shade of pink wasn't the only repeat of the current AW trends- this collection also include geometric, check prints and oversized tailoring. 

After a morning of online streaming from my desk aboard the Virgin Pendelino that I practically call home,  I was off to Freemasons Hall for my first Fashion Scout show of my day. The Yeashin Kim show was as electric as her previous seasons, all of which I have loved.  This collection featured soft pastels alongside greys, tapes and mustard tones. Pretty dresses complete with pleats, ruffles and pearl detail, often accessorised with top hats, were the standout pieces for me. 
Make-up was kept as feminine as the clothing- dewy pink lips and cheeks, (applied high on the cheek bone rather than apple) complete with strong brows and a wash of deep rose shadow applied mainly from the socket line up to the brow bone. Hair was accesorised with plaits worn milk-maid style, with lengths worn naturally straight. Hair prone to a few rascal kinks? Perfect, this is exactly how it was styled at Yeashin Kim!

Bernard Chandran

Then it was back to twenty minutes in the rain waiting for the much anticipated show from  Bernard Chandran. With an invite featuring a set of headphones complete with crown detail and a press release mentioning the words Runaway Princess, the buzz of what to expect was evident for the awaiting queue of London's fashion set.
And what a show it was. Probably my favourite of the day in fact.
Packed with bold metallic red, purple and greens, vivid golds and silvers plus pastel tones and a hint of burnt orange, this collection of dresses and jumpsuits are absolute show stoppers. 
Dressed down with messy hair, tied scruffily back in a pony tail with added twist detail at sides, and a completely nude make up except for a bold pillar box red lip and hint of a bronzed cheek.
Oh, and of course, a variety of crowns, including those coveted headphone ones!

Yulia Kondranina Finale

After a quick dash to Charles Fox and a spot of dinner, it was back to Freemasons House 
for Fashion Scouts Merit Award Winner, Yulia Kondranina show.
A simple palette of black and white, alongside navy, lemon and pink, with delicate geometric shape detail as the focus of the collection. Pieces included feminine sheath dresses, some with deep V necklines and sheer panel detail. 
Hair was slicked back from root to crown using gel products, with length left in a waved, natural state . Make-up focus was an unruly, brushed up brow, and contoured cheeks, complete with a beauty mark in the hollow of the cheek. A new trend emerging perhaps?!



My last show of the day was Ping He, which included fashions favourites Laura Whitmore and Poppy Delevigne alongside Make up Guru Tanya Burr.

Hair and make-up wise, this is my favourite by a mile. Think MASSIVE beehives- we are talking Marge Simpson height here guys, complete with random shapes of white and black hair spray. Finished with  a sharply contoured cheek, black lip with centre white line detail and a cream white pigment buffed onto the eye and surrounding area. This was one attention grabbing show.

Yet another monochrome palette, Ping He's collection was inspired by architecture and features strong yet beautiful, feminine silhouettes. I think this is one name we should all ensure is etched into our minds for years to come. 

And finally! The last show of the day, unfortunately viewed once again from the comfort of Coach D of the London-Liverpool commute, was one of my all time favourites, PPQ. Quite apt that this show was shown past sundown- as the make-up was definitely a sultry evening look, and one we are more used to seeing in February's AW shows.  Deep berry stained lips, heavily kohl rimmed eyes, finished with smokey violet shadow in a softly winged out shape. Like the majority of today's shows, hair was swept off the face in a soft bouffant, with long length cascading at back. 

With bolder primary and secondary tones of red, yellow, green and purple worn alongside black and strong floral prints, this show definitely stood apart from the others.

Dresses featuring sheer skirts, petticoats and ruffled edges, were teamed with chunky gold jewellery and 1940's inspired hats with decorative veils.

One day down, four to go. And what a season SS14 is going to be!

You can read more information from these shows, and see lots of images by visiting 
The Fashion Scout Blog.