The 10 essential takeaways from this year’s London Fashion Week, including the key street-style trends

Over 80 designers put on 54 catwalk shows during London Fashion Week. Image shows models presenting creations from designer Julien Mcdonald (AFP/Getty )

To outsiders, London Fashion Week might appear like a frenzied gathering of industry insiders who concern themselves only with whether or not they’re sitting on the front row, or how many glasses of prosecco they’ve had that day.

In reality, this is – at its core – a trade event that sees press, buyers, trend forecasters, shareholders and others, gather to see what is on offer for the coming months. Attendees will decide what flies and what falls flat, what will be stocked in their stores and what will be relegated to history books and what will be filtered down and democratised to millions of high street shoppers. Imagine, if you will, that scene in The Devil Wears Prada, where Meryl Streep tells Anne Hathaway that her cerulean jumper wasn’t something she merely picked up in a bargain bin, but something several factions of the fashion industry handpicked as a trend.

Fashion week, more than just an Instagram opportunity, represents the gathering of an industry that provides over 890,000 jobs for people across the UK and contributes an estimated £32.3 billion to the UK GDP.

But it’s not all economics. A lot happened this London Fashion Week. If you want to be in the know, look no further. Consider this your one-stop shop for everything you need to know about LFW SS19.

1. The Stats

Here’s the bit that reveals what a mammoth affair London Fashion Week is. Are you ready?

This year, over 80 designers put on 54 catwalk shows, 26 presentations and over 20 events. 100 brands displayed their work in the designer showrooms.

Show attendees came from over 50 countries across five different continents to see the collections.

Nivea produced over 2.5 million London Fashion week limited edition deodorants for the week (it’s important to stay fresh when you’re squashed next to strangers all day).

Last season Getty images shot 45,000 images across the week and Mercedes Benz drove 32,000 miles between shows.

2. It was a week of firsts

It truly was a week of firsts, as this season saw Victoria Beckham celebrate her eponymous brand’s 10-year anniversary by showing in London (incidentally where her entire production line is based) for the first time as her entire family sat front row in support.

Alexa Chung was officially inaugurated to the BFC line-up with her first catwalk show, in which she explored airport lounges through a collection of classic Chung garb. You can read our review here. https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/fashion/alexa-chung-london-fashion-week-retro-inspiration-a8539501.html

And in perhaps one of the most anticipated fashion shows of all time, Riccardo Tisci presented his debut collection for Burberry. It wasn’t as wild as many predicted, but it hinted of exciting things to come. You can read our review here.

3. Celebrities dominated the FROW

As every season, this London Fashion Week saw celebrities in their hoards accepting invites to sit in the prestigious FROW seats (the courtside equivalent for you sports fans).

This year saw Serbian artist Marina Abramovic come out to support Riccardo Tisci in his debut collection for Burberry. Vivienne Westwood and her husband Andreas Kronthaler gave Matty Bovan the ultimate seal of approval when they sat on his front row, Victoria Beckham’s entire family came out to see her London debut, while Brooklyn Beckham also stopped off at the Pam Hogg show earlier in the week, as did Rose McGowan. Ashley Williams, Alexa Chung and House of Holland all saw Pixie Geldof’s support and Daisy Lowe and Steve Coogan turned up for Alexa Chung’s first catwalk show, after which the designer headed to the front row at Simone Rocha.

Helen McCrory decided the FROW wasn’t quite close enough to the action for her, so she walked in Alice Temperley’s catwalk.

Other attendees included Olivia Grant, Laura Whitmore, Nicola Roberts, Nicole Sherzinger, the entire band of Little Mix, Alice Dellal and Rachel Stevens.

Reality TV made an appearance as ex-Made in Chelsea cast members Millie Macintosh and Jess Woodley were seen gracing benches, as was Love Island’s Megan Barton.

Victoria Beckham celebrated 10 years of her brand with her debut at LFW (PA)

4. Leopard print dominated

Away from the catwalks, the sidewalks saw a leap of leopard print, as the pattern dominated in the street style stakes. Whether it was trousers, wrap skirts, handbags, shoes or jackets, you name it, it was leopard print. Loud and punk iterations sat next to more classic interpretations but it was there nonetheless, and show-goers sitting next to one another complemented each other on their jungle attire.

Riccardo Tisci even showed leopard print in his Spring/Summer Burberry collection, proving that you don’t have to wait for winter to be wild.

5. Yeeha! Cowboy boots are back

After a decade gathering dust in an abandoned corner of our wardrobes, cowboy boots returned with aplomb.

Seen on the feet of many show-goers were Ganni’s monochrome calf-length versions along with many other styles, all of which were worn with, not fringed clothing, but delicate feminine dresses. Time to get yours out for autumn?

6. Ikea made a strong appearance

Surprise guest of the season, Ikea was a strong contender for third place in terms of street style appearances, as people channelled the Vetements-inspired logo, representing the Swedish brand with bags, tops and even belts. It remains unconfirmed as to whether or not the people wearing these items did in fact have to build them themselves first.

7. Diversity on the catwalks continued

While we continue to wait for diversity to become the norm on catwalks, a positivity was felt this season as it saw a huge increase. Following on from Rihannah’s Savage x Fenty lingerie catwalk show in New York that saw a range of women including pregnant model, this season in London saw Alice Temperley cast her mother in her show and it saw Simone Rocha and Riccardo Tisci’s usual diverse casts. One show even saw a model walk the runway while using a breastpump, but Winnie Harlow and Adowa Abowah were the undisputed catwalk starts of the week.

8. The influencer has landed

While celebrities came out in force, there was a new breed on the front rows. It felt like more influencers than ever hit the shows this season to capture all the moments live from the runways on Instagram.

9. The It boy

Doing what London does best, the city offered up collections from a range of emerging designers but it was one in particular who left their mark. Presenting his second-ever LFW catwalk, Matty Bovan was the talk of the town and it the must-know name. You’d have to be creating something pretty special to have the Grand dame of British Fashion, Vivienne Westwood herself, grace your front row. Get to know.

10. Flat shoes are still a thing

Be still our beating bunions. On the streets and on the catwalks, flat shoes continued to rein. Simone Rocha showed more delicious feathered and fluffy sliders and mules, Burberry showed Doc Marten-style buckled shoes and Temperley showed sliders.

On the streets people opted for aforementioned cowboy boots, and the Stan Smith, Balenciaga Triple S and many other trainers remained.