From frocks to take tea and scones in to works of art so superb they deserve to be in the Tate, here's the best fashion from a big weekend in London
London has birthed many great things – bangers and mash, pubs and pints, Prince George – but perhaps above all else it has served us incredibly good style and some incredibly great designers. Along with the British classics – Burberry, Christopher Kane, Vivienne Westwood – interesting, emerging talent has sprouted sartorially across the city in what has been an epic few days for fashion.
A hotbed of raw, grungy, recusant culture, its fashion week echoes this; strong, spirited, subversive style which marries the tough and the fragile in unexpected – but welcome – harmony. It has bite, but it also has beauty, and a lot of it.
Here, a look at GRAZIA’s favourite Fall Winter 2020 collections thus far.
Richard Quinn
Words would serve Quinn’s work a great injustice. Even the most superfluous, reverent, stupendous adjectives seem inadequate to describe his mastery, presenting Ready-to-Wear with a couture bent. It was, as always, a lesson in delirious excess; there were rich retro florals, gargantuan volume, haute gimp masks and ladles of melodrama. A particular highlight (and Instagram-happy moment) came in the form of the incredible pearl and crystal embellishment, which spelt out such slogans as “God Save The Quinn” and “I Love You” across flip skirts, flares and blazers – Quinn’s response to the Brexit chaos.
LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 15: A model walks the runway at the Richard Quinn show during London Fashion Week February 2020 on February 15, 2020 in London, England. (Photo by Mike Marsland/WireImage)
LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 15: A model walks the runway at the Richard Quinn show during London Fashion Week February 2020 on February 15, 2020 in London, England. (Photo by Mike Marsland/WireImage)
LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 15: A model walks the runway at the Richard Quinn show during London Fashion Week February 2020 on February 15, 2020 in London, England. (Photo by Mike Marsland/WireImage)
LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 15: A model walks the runway at the Richard Quinn show during London Fashion Week February 2020 on February 15, 2020 in London, England. (Photo by Mike Marsland/WireImage)
LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 15: A model walks the runway at the Richard Quinn Ready to Wear Fall/Winter 2020-2021 fashion show during London Fashion Week on February 15, 2020 in London, England. (Photo by Victor VIRGILE/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 15: A model walks the runway at the Richard Quinn show during London Fashion Week February 2020 on February 15, 2020 in London, England. (Photo by Mike Marsland/WireImage)
Shrimps Shrimps made the kind of wardrobe you’d meet the Queen in; ladylike pearls, puffy debutante dresses, sateen opera gloves, plush rings of faux fur. It was distinctly British fashion fare – but with a twist, imbued with that kitschy Shrimps spirit in the form of ’80s ski goggles, chunky hiking boots and fun updates on their classic crystal handbags. Tea, scones and side of rebellion.
LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 14: A model walks the runway at the Shrimps Ready to Wear Fall/Winter 2020-2021 fashion show during London Fashion Week on February 14, 2020 in London, England. (Photo by Victor VIRGILE/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 14: A model walks the runway at the Shrimps Ready to Wear Fall/Winter 2020-2021 fashion show during London Fashion Week on February 14, 2020 in London, England. (Photo by Victor VIRGILE/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 14: A model walks the runway at the Shrimps Ready to Wear Fall/Winter 2020-2021 fashion show during London Fashion Week on February 14, 2020 in London, England. (Photo by Victor VIRGILE/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 14: A model walks the runway at the Shrimps Ready to Wear Fall/Winter 2020-2021 fashion show during London Fashion Week on February 14, 2020 in London, England. (Photo by Victor VIRGILE/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images)
Halpern
For the last three years, Michael Halpern has honed a party-ready, sequin-saturated aesthetic to great success. His Fall Winter 2020 collection was yet another display of this hyped ’70s disco fever, offering more glitter-flecked flares, shimmering party dresses and velvet jumpsuits, but this time incredible ballgowns full of volume (and searing colour) also punctuated the collection.
LONDON, England – February 15: A model walks the runway at the Halpern show during London Fashion Week February 2020 on February 15, 2020 in London, England. (Photo by Estrop/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 15: A model walks the runway at the Halpern Ready to Wear Fall/Winter 2020-2021 fashion show during London Fashion Week on February 15, 2020 in London, England. (Photo by Victor VIRGILE/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images)
LONDON, England – February 15: A model walks the runway at the Halpern show during London Fashion Week February 2020 on February 15, 2020 in London, England. (Photo by Estrop/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 15: A model walks the runway at the Halpern Ready to Wear Fall/Winter 2020-2021 fashion show during London Fashion Week on February 15, 2020 in London, England. (Photo by Victor VIRGILE/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 15: A model walks the runway at the Halpern Ready to Wear Fall/Winter 2020-2021 fashion show during London Fashion Week on February 15, 2020 in London, England. (Photo by Victor VIRGILE/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images)
Matty Bovan
You’ve got to hand it him, London’s punk fashion kid Matty Bovan has creativity in spades. With the kind of subversive creative rigour of a young Alexander McQueen, Bovan once again challenged logic and trend in a show that had everything-but-the-kitchen-sink. It did, however, have shower screen-type curtains designed by milliner Stephen Jones. “Off-world” was Bovan’s overarching theme, and through Jones’ curtains, off we went into Matty Bovan’s very “off”, very imaginative world.
LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 14: A model walks the runway at the Matty Bovan ready to wear Fall/Winter 2020-2021 fashion show during London Fashion Week on February 14, 2020 in London, England. (Photo by Victor VIRGILE/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 14: A model walks the runway at the Matty Bovan ready to wear Fall/Winter 2020-2021 fashion show during London Fashion Week on February 14, 2020 in London, England. (Photo by Victor VIRGILE/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 14: A model walks the runway at the Matty Bovan ready to wear Fall/Winter 2020-2021 fashion show during London Fashion Week on February 14, 2020 in London, England. (Photo by Victor VIRGILE/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 14: A model walks the runway at the Matty Bovan ready to wear Fall/Winter 2020-2021 fashion show during London Fashion Week on February 14, 2020 in London, England. (Photo by Victor VIRGILE/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 14: A model walks the runway at the Matty Bovan ready to wear Fall/Winter 2020-2021 fashion show during London Fashion Week on February 14, 2020 in London, England. (Photo by Victor VIRGILE/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images)
Richard Malone
One glance at Richard Malone’s Fall Winter 2020 collection and images of The Handmaid’s Tale sprung to mind; its sculptural bonnet-like headwear evoking the garb of Margaret Atwood’s central protagonists. But Malone’s true talent lay in his sculptural pleated gowns, artful patchwork, superb play on texture and his exploration of underwear-as-outerwear, something which stems from his late grandmother Nellie.
LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY14: A model walks the runway during the Robert Malone Ready to Wear Fall/Winter 2020-2021 fashion show as part of the London Fashion Week on February 14, 2020 in London, England. (Photo by Victor VIRGILE/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY14: A model walks the runway during the Robert Malone Ready to Wear Fall/Winter 2020-2021 fashion show as part of the London Fashion Week on February 14, 2020 in London, England. (Photo by SAVIKO/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY14: A model walks the runway during the Robert Malone Ready to Wear Fall/Winter 2020-2021 fashion show as part of the London Fashion Week on February 14, 2020 in London, England. (Photo by Victor VIRGILE/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY14: A model walks the runway during the Robert Malone Ready to Wear Fall/Winter 2020-2021 fashion show as part of the London Fashion Week on February 14, 2020 in London, England. (Photo by SAVIKO/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY14: A model walks the runway during the Robert Malone Ready to Wear Fall/Winter 2020-2021 fashion show as part of the London Fashion Week on February 14, 2020 in London, England. (Photo by SAVIKO/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY14: A model walks the runway during the Robert Malone Ready to Wear Fall/Winter 2020-2021 fashion show as part of the London Fashion Week on February 14, 2020 in London, England. (Photo by SAVIKO/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY14: A model walks the runway during the Robert Malone Ready to Wear Fall/Winter 2020-2021 fashion show as part of the London Fashion Week on February 14, 2020 in London, England. (Photo by SAVIKO/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images)
Roland Mouret
The French-born, London-based designer made contoured dresses that hugged the female form like no other, but Fall Winter 2020 saw a departure from Mouret’s famed frocks. Instead he presented a beautifully refined collection of softly tailored suits with a ’40s slouch, layered lurex dresses and plissé chiffon gowns that wafted gently down the runway, all adorned with broken fragments of antiquated ceramic sculpture.
LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 16: A model walks the runway at the Roland Mouret show during London Fashion Week February 2020 on February 16, 2020 in London, England. (Photo by Stuart Wilson/BFC/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 16: A model walks the runway at the Roland Mouret show during London Fashion Week February 2020 on February 16, 2020 in London, England. (Photo by Stuart Wilson/BFC/Getty Images)
LONDON, England – February 16: A model walks the runway at the Roland Mouret show during London Fashion Week February 2020 on February 14, 2020 in London, England. (Photo by Estrop/Getty Images)
LONDON, England – February 16: A model walks the runway at the Roland Mouret show during London Fashion Week February 2020 on February 14, 2020 in London, England. (Photo by Estrop/Getty Images)