Curent, London Fashion Week a prime event in the international fashion industry has once again demonstrated why London remains a capital of creativity. This season’s showcase, marking the event’s 40th anniversary, has been a vibrant celebration of creativity, pushing boundaries and setting trends that are poised to influence wardrobes worldwide come spring 2025.
The SS19 collections were filled with both throwbacks to various eras and the modern technology used to create the pieces with minimized waste. Without a doubt, one of the more obvious trends to surface was the return to prominence of great hand-painted floral designs. Treading away from the cute novelty prints of recent seasons, designers have taken the concept of abundance in floral references in its multiple avatars. Marques’almeida, the Portuguese design is all about this trend through brocade bell bottoms and embellished denim, Similarly, Erdem and Richard Quinn incorporating flower suits and melodramatic roses on their eveningwear pieces.
The influence of ballet and dance was evident across multiple collections, with designers like Simone Rocha, Bora Aksu, and Chopova Lowena proving that the ‘ballet core’ trend is evolving rather than fading. But this season, the look is given darker shades added to notes that give it a grunge touch. Chopova Lowena layering tutus with Victoriana blouses and peplumed petticoats – pretty garments with punk influences. Irish designer Rocha’s runway was awash with tutu skirts, silk slippers, and rolled-up organza clutches – a style that’s undoubtedly in the running to become next season’s ‘it’ bag.
In a nod to vintage glamour, several designers channeled the 1950s ‘tradwife’ aesthetic. Maria Grazia Chiuri of Dior presented Victoire de Castellane and jeweler Ralph Toledano with kick flare WW2 mixed with old Hollywood glamour with wasp-waist and Chanel slip. Quinn incorporated the ultra-feminine ‘New Look’ silhouette in a range of his evening gowns, while Costelloe drew inspiration from the latter half of the decade, channeling Jackie Kennedy with trapeze shapes and A-line silhouettes.
Unlike the highly feminine aesthetic seen on the catwalks, there was also a trend for absolutely minimal sheer creations. Transparency and light layering which can be recalled on the basis of letting the body do the talking was used by Nensi Dojaka, 16Arlington and the British newcomer S.S. Daley. Having similar features with early ‘90s fashion trend it seems to attract people as just an addition to fashion accessories.
Sustainability continued to play an important role in the fashion world with more and more designers adding features such as environmentally hospital practises and creative recycling processes to produce their clothes. This consciousness emphasizes fashion because more customers are eager to obtain clothes that are manufactured sustainably.
The gorgeous faces accompanying the beauty of the fashion were as creative and as diverse as the fashion itself. Orangey Reds reigned supreme in several shows. They copied the colors of the setting sun. Another trend was cool shades of eye makeup: olive green and gunmetal grey, with intense smoky eyes. Goth touches were also seen, midway grey eyeshadow was applied to the beginners and brushed up to the brow bone lending rather a punk feel to many of the shows.
Just like beauty, London Fashion Week dictates trends that are not only restricted to the garments or accessories worn but those lived and breathed daily. The event’s emphasis on sustainability, for instance, mirrors the city’s wider push towards eco-friendly living. As far as aesthetic styles, many of the clothes presented as lifestyle proposals demonstrate the enhanced flexibility of the clothes in use, fully reflecting the tendencies of changing work/leisure time proportions of today’s Londoners actively commuting between office and country house.
Alas – it is the end of fashion week, and we can conclude that London is constantly strengthening its position as one of the biggest world fashion centers. Besides defining the trend for the future fashion season, such creativity and innovation responded to the spirit of the city as a masterpiece. Sustainability and audacity are two tenets. London Fashion Week, as a contemporary version, acts as an indicator of culture and trends in an increasingly globalized world through the looking glass of fashion and trends.