LCF BA Show 2010

It's that time of year again. Summer has "officially" arrived and students everywhere around the world are impatiently clocking away those final hours in the library, polishing theses and cramming for exams. And for fashion students, forgive me for the cheap pawning off of a Tim Gunn phrase, it's time to put the finishing touches on their graduate collections, strap the models into the looks, take a deep breath at the end of the runway and "make it work!" It it thus that the student show season has gotten underway--Central St. Martins showed on Tuesday (I missed it), Insituto Marangoni on Friday (post coming soon) and Graduate Fashion Week has just kicked off. 

Hilary takes notes, I'm such an editrix stalker

Thursday night's LCF BA show, in its new home at the Diary (where Sass & Bide have showed two seasons in a row) put the class of 2009 to shame. I was sat opposite the runway from both Colin McDowell and Hilary Alexander, who didn't really speak to one another at all. On the whole, the collections dwarfed those of last year in terms of both craftsmanship and sophistication of vision. There were several collections I am sorely tempted to email the designers and pinch a few pieces for myself--there were none such last year. 

 Also, to my delightful surprise, LCF employed mature models--gorgeous silver-haired feminine creatures with bone structure to make Tyra cringe--how great is that? Older models walking in a student show, truly, I feel there are some visionaries in this mix. 

LOVE these shoes

Stars, including Mr Hudson and Edith Bowman, were out in force to support the 26 young designers who graduate this summer, in Womenswear, Menswear and Surface Textiles.  As well as celebrity supporters, viewers from all over the world logged onto the LCF website to watch the show streamed live – a first for any fashion fashion college worldwide.  

Krissi Murison, respected Editor of the iconic NME magazine, presented the night’s three catwalk awards at the end of the show. The first award for Fashion Textiles was won by Karishma Shahani (from India), the second for Design and Technology was won by Yelena Loguiiko (from Belarus) and the biggest award of the night: Collection of the Year was won by Napathon Sampataphakodee (from Thailand) whose tailored menswear collection inspired by french photographer Henri Cartier-Breeson was unanimously selected by the judges.  Speaking after the show Napathon was surprised and delighted to win - and couldn't wait to tell his parents back in Thailand.

This year a fourth award, The Barnett Lawson Trimmings Award for Best Use of Embellishment was presented by Caroline Marx of Barnett Lawson Trimmings to Vilvin Sabu (24) from India for her beautiful Mayan and Aztec inspired ethical collection made of bamboo silks and natural dyes.

After the show, I joined the university's faculty, deans and friends of the college (including Mr. McDowell) for dinner at Ciao Bella on Lambs' Conduit Street, where we feasted on pasta and toasted to the future success of the graduates late into the night.

So brace yourselves for a massive recap as I wanted to give each and every designer a bit of  representation on the blog. I have contacts for all of them, so if you'd be interested in learning more or ordering any of their collections, please don't hesitate to get in touch. LCF class of 2010, CONGRATULATIONS! 

I loved all the bright color and layers in this collection

The asymmetrical one leg covered in foil and one shoe was really cool, not practical, but cool

This collection was very Jonathan Saunders to me

The winning collection, Yohji-inspired skirts for men?

This was one of my two favorite collections, you'll see why in about two second

I love all this supersoft mohair in muted tones. The jacket on the far right is so me I can barely stand it. May have to order one...

I also loved the slouchy cuteness of this collection, the sweaters and sluggish knitted accessories

Not quite sure what this backpack/coat thing is, she sort of looks like an ethnic turtle, but I like it anwyay

crotch shot!! I really like this menswear line, very Westwood to me.

This coat is also very Jonathan Saunders

There's always one student who feels the need to create something beyond tacky and ugly and utilizing kitchenwear as headgear. Always.

I LOVE this androgynous collection. May need to order some of the slouchy oversized coats--I want to live in one of these cocoons!

This collection was very pretty, very girly. I loved it, though there wasn't enough variation in the looks.

Another cute collection, this one had a vintage inspired and very easy to wear feel.

Love the cut and print of this blouse

This collection reminded me of Sam's pj costume in Where the Wild Things Are