For the fashionable city residents among us, there’s only one calendar date in London worth making a note of: London Fashion Week 2023. And it just so happens that the first of its bi-annual events will take place this weekend.
A more exciting diary fixture than Christmas for the clothes-minded, London Fashion Week brings a whole lotta glitz, glam and culture to the city every February and September (along with an army of people effortlessly running around in stacked heels without breaking their ankles) – and if you want to get amongst it, you’re gonna wanna read on. Here’s an insider’s ultimate guide to London Fashion Week 2023.
So, what is London Fashion Week?
London Fashion Week happens bi-annually (once in February and once in September), and if you’re local to Somerset House or Soho, you’ll likely know it as the time of year that extravagantly dressed fashionistas arrive in herds to 1) be photographed and 2) check out the latest runway trends.
The event is primarily for people working in the industry and sees a large array of esteemed British designers showcase their latest collections for the following season. It’s here that fashion journalists and photographers report on the collections and analyse upcoming trends, which we normal folk then see online and in magazines.
In addition to the big glossies, buyers (from stores such as Harvey Nichols and Selfridges) and celebrities are usually in attendance, too, selecting the styles they’d like to stock (or if they’re a celebrity, wear) next season.
London Fashion Week also sets the tone for what we see the following season in stores (which, for this event, will be Spring/Summer 2024), when high street brands take inspiration for their own ranges and create watered-down lines that are more suitable (and price-appropriate) for day-to-day styles and regular consumers.
When is London Fashion Week 2023?
London Fashion Week takes place between 15th-19th September 2023 – before the industry flocks to Milan for Italy’s version of the key calendar event.
Where is London Fashion Week taking place in 2023?
Designers tend to host their shows at various top-secret venues across the city, and this year is set to be no different. While in previous year’s London Fashion Week has had a main hub of activity in either Soho or Somerset House, their main hub will take place online – something which the British Fashion Council has done on numerous occasions since the pandemic hit.
For this year’s exhibitions and the BFC Newgen space, attendees will find it at The Old Selfridges Hotel.
Freemason’s Hall is another popular show space, typically used for up-and-coming designers that are on the Fashion Scout roster.
How can I get tickets to London Fashion Week 2023?
Unfortunately, the main shows are reserved for those working in the industry and are invite-only (it’s all very exclusive, darling!), but there are a number of events the general public can enjoy throughout the week. This handy map on the LFW website will tell you exactly where and when these Citywide Celebration events are.
Where can I watch the shows?
London Fashion Week will host a digital hub where those who can’t attend the shows can stream them online. Kinda like having a front-row ticket from the comfort of your own home. You can find the official London Fashion Week digital hub here.
What are the highlights this year?
Shows to watch out for this year include Phoebe English, Bora Aksu and Paul Costelloe – who’ll be kicking the week off with shows this Friday.
On Saturday, Eudon Choi will start the day, before big names such as JW Anderson, ROKSANDA and Molly Goddard all take to the catwalk to showcase their collections. On Sunday, expect spectacles from Simone Rocha, ERDEM, and Pam Hogg, before the likes of Burberry and Ashish wrap things up on the Monday.
In addition to the shows, this season, the British Fashion Council will be hosting a ’30 Years of London Fashion’ exhibition, which will feature some of the most iconic British-made pieces in fashion history, and take a deeper look into the talent our country has produced.
Highlights for this include Björk’s iconic swan dress, Harry Style’s outfit from the Golden video, and works from influential designers such as JW Anderson and Christopher Kane. Tickets are on sale here.
Where should I eat during LFW?
Luckily for Fashion Week goers this year, a large part of the roster for the week is set to take place near some of the best places to dine in London: Marylebone and Covent Garden – and we’ve got just the places to fill your tum.
Places to eat near The Old Selfridges Hotel:
- Flat Iron Marylebone
- The Ivy Asia Mayfair
- Lina Stores Marylebone
- Roti Chai
- Clarette
- Tonkotsu Selfridges
- Aubaine Selfridges
- Crosstown Marylebone
- Arôme Bakery
- Patty & Bun
Places to eat near Freemason’s Hall:
- Barrafina
- Bunga Bunga Covent Garden
- Hoa Sen
- Hawksmoor Seven Dials
- Rosa’s Thai Seven Dials
- Seven Dials Market
- Ave Mario
- The Ivy Market Grill
- San Carlo Cicchetti
- Fatt Pundit
- Buns and Buns
- SushiSamba
What else is happening around London for Fashion Week?
There’ll be various other stylish celebrations happening around London to mark the occasion, including a number of fashion workshop and events, including pattern-cutting lessons with Central Saint Martin’s most-esteemed tutors – Louis Loizou and Joshua Beaty -, a brand new events space with music and performances at Selfridges, and even a zero-waste restaurant pop-up at MATCHES.
Finally, the Fashion School will be teaching people how to embellish their clothes, in a bid to help people learn how to extend the life of their current wardobe, and Somerset House – the former home of LFW – will host The Morgan Stanley Exhibition, exploring the stories of Black British fashion.