London Fashion Week Diaries With The Maxwell Scott Team | Part 1

Time: 6.30pm

Location: 18 Albemarle Street 

Best known for her elegant evening wear and with an OBE to boot, Amanda Wakeley kicked off this year’s LFW with a champagne soiree at her flagship shop in Mayfair – a fashion warming, if you will. Armed with pre-fashion week excitement and energy, we, the Maxwell – Scott trio (Jess, Nicole and Kat) headed to the party fashioned with the Ortona clutch and carefully selected ensembles, of course. The beautifully ornate shop had been gutted of its exquisite garments and transformed into an art gallery for the evening. Black and white images of Wakeley’s nearest and dearest, shot by Laura Bailey, hung in minimal black frames on the ground floor. Upstairs, it was instantly clear that the Amanda Wakeley woman was heading on safari for the summer ahead. Luscious palm leaves and vintage trunks surrounded her SS20 collection. An assortment of flowing silk dresses in hues reminiscent of an African sunset mixed with more utilitarian two-pieces and jumpsuits in a checked canvas material. Known for her instinctive talent for making women look as glamorous as humanly possible, this collection most definitely didn’t falter.

Time: 9am

Location: 180 Strand 

Friday commenced with an edgier slant in the form of Mark Fast. A knitwear designer iconic for his risqué creations, Fast showcased his SS20 collection at London Fashion Week’s base at 180 the Strand. Arriving to a neon pink lit catwalk sparking an idea of what was to come, the show sprung to life with a sudden burst of white light. His signature knits in an array of vivid hues inspired by the Amazon followed. Connoting a tragic reminder as to what has been lost in the recent fires, Mr Fast’s collection paid tribute to the natural beauty of the Amazonian rainforest. Tasseling was used with levels of genius on an assortment of dresses, conjuring images of birds of paradise in flight as the models sashayed down the catwalk. Inspired by the 1990 silhouettes and energy of the likes of Madonna and Chloe Sevigny, the collection encapsulated their lust for masculine tailoring and slightly riskier styles. A show brimming with vibrance, it was the ideal way to commence our fashion week.

Time: 10am

Location: The Waldorf Hilton Hotel

Set in the classical main hall of the Waldorf Hilton, Wei Huang showcased their SS20 collection within the hotel’s ornate surroundings – a contrast of what was to come. The show began with a plethora of tech fabrics, futuristic shapes and innovative constructions. Summer hats were attached to webbed string and thrown across the bodies of the models, their hair beautifully constructed in a haphazard form. A collection symbolising the mental disorder of obsessive compulsiveness, it was clear that this Chinese designer was on a frenzy to impress. Although the show lacked a little atmosphere, the pieces most definitely inspired thoughts of a new genre of dressing. The light and fresh colour palette of white, cobalt blue and satsuma orange maintained a refreshing consistency throughout. The finale culminated with the entire Jamie Wei Huang team taking a bow with a polite applause from the crowd.