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 Autumn/Winter 2023), 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 17th-21st February 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 Paul Costelloe, Bora Aksu and Huishan Zhang – who’ll be kicking the week off with shows this Friday.
On Saturday, Eudon Choi will start the day, before big names such as Molly Goddard, Simone Rocha, Pam Hogg, JW Anderson, Christopher Kane, Julien Macdonald, Paul & Joe and Burberry all take to the catwalk to showcase their collections. This year’s event will also be dedicated to the late Vivienne Westwood, who has been globally known as one of the UK’s finest designers for a matter of decades now.
Oxfam will also host a special show at the start of the week, which aims to put a spotlight on second-hand shopping and sustainability.
Ukrainian Fashion Week will also take place in London on Tuesday 21st February, showcasing three Ukrainian designers: Frolov, Kseniaschnaider and Paskal.
In terms of things the general public can get involved in, Vogue and Snapchat have teamed up for a new immersive exhibition – curated by none other than Edward Enninful OBE (the visionary Editor-in-Chief of British Vogue). The exhibition illustrates how augmented reality can advance the realm of physical fashion, amplifying and transforming clothing designs through innovative digital experiences. The exhibition is free to visit and can be found at 84-86 Regent Street, W1B 5HB, during LFW.
Other events include live dancers and music at the famous Cyberdog in Camden, upcycling workshops at River Island Oxford Street, free flower drawing classes at Shaku, parties with DJs, barbers, drinks and more at Footlocker Oxford Street, candlemaking masterclasses with French Connection Duke Street, and even a free-to-attend exhibition about the future of fashion with the London College of Fashion. Check out the full array of public events 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
Food offers during LFW:
- Franco’s London is offering a complimentary glass of champagne with prix fixe menu bookings when you book using the quote ‘London Fashion Week’.
- Free glass of prosecco with any main over £14.95 at Wulf and Lamb when mentioning the offer.
- Exclusive London Fashion Week menu throughout the week at all STK restaurants.
- Two complimentary glasses of prosecco at Pastaio when you order their sharing lobster linguine during LFW, and book with the quote ‘LFW’.
- Ping Pong Restaurant is offering a complimentary Lychee and Roses Martini when dining during LFW, however, the code #LFW23 must be used when booking.
- Salt Yard will serve up a special London Fashion Week tasting menu available to groups of 8 or more, including a free glass of Cava when you quote ‘LFW’. The offer will also be available at Dehesa, Opera Tavern and Ember Yard.
- Poke House has created a special poke bowl especially for fuelling fashionistas on-the-go, which is available to try now until 28th February.
- Park Chinois is offering a complimentary glass of champagne on arrival to all guests who book quoting ‘British Fashion Council’.
- Guests at Arros QD can enjoy a complimentary cocktail when dining during LFW, and there’s even a special menu designer for the occasion. Just quote ‘London Fashion Week’ when pre-booking.
What else is happening around London for Fashion Week?
There’ll be various other stylish celebrations happening around London to mark the occasion, including an epic week-long party at Chotto Matte Soho – which will see big names such as Nick Grimshaw, Pixie Geldof, Mary Charteris, and more take to the decks for their very own DJ sets while guests drink and dine.
For those wanting to attend a show, young designer Josh Birch Jones will be hosting a show in central London on Monday at 1pm (which you can RSVP to by emailing team-josh@candidpublicity.com), while All Saints will be screening their catwalk show live with free-flowing fizz on Tuesday between 6-9pm.
Elsewhere, Matches will be opening a very stylish cafe for the Fashion Week crowd to enjoy, which can be found at their Carlos Place flagship. And if you’re in the mood for an after-party, we recommend heading to Chiltern Firehouse or Maison Estelle to get in on the fun.