Away from the catwalks there's a world of cool events taking place. And best of all you don't have to be Karl Lagerfeld to get in.
Yeah it's London Fashion Week. And you know what that means? It means the world's fashionista big shots descend on London hotels to get put up for a week of unparallelled luxury: because fashion people don't have friends they can stay with, and they don't even have time to sleep in their own homes. They simply fly from London hotels to hotels in New York, back to hotels in Milan, and now over here to binge on room service bubbly.
But for you dear mortal, what does London Fashion Week mean? It means that London's putting on a whole host of wicked events that even οi πολλοi (that's you) can attend. And to be honest, without all the black-clad PRs, the queus and the clipboards, these events are probably a whole lot more fun. Check 'em out, and smile, so Anna Wintour doesn't have to.
From 4th September
Male @ Maureen Paley
American music journalist and photography critic Vince Aletti revisits his '90s explorations of gender by curating a group show entitled 'Male' at Maureen Paley this autumn. There's work on show by a range of contemporary artists including Wolfgang Tillmans.
From 7th September
Attractive Repulsive @ 3 Bedfordbury
Overlapping with London Fashion Week is an exhibition organised by acclaimed contemporary fashion photographer Dominique Dieulot. Having worked with the likes of Issey Miyake, Marie Claire and Vogue, Dieulot now presents an exploration of the female nude. The exhibition also includes work by artists Phan Tu and Sophie Howard.
From 8th September
Hussein Chalayan @ Lisson
Hussein Chalayan is one of the major figures in the contemporary fashion world, his name synonymous with wacky conceptualism, technological wizardry and unparalleled innovativity. After the success of 2009's major retrospective at the Design Museum, Hussein Chalayan is now collaborating with Lisson Gallery to present a new installation this September and October. Expect fireworks, probably literally.
11th September
Catwalk Carnaby @ Carnaby Street
Alexis Knox - one of the fashion guru types at one of our favourite magazines in the world, Notion - styles an afternoon of free catwalk shows along Carnaby Street. The models will parade 120 Autumn/Winter looks and loads of the local stores will be offering hefty discounts for those of you who get inspired and want to get a bit of the action.
From 17th September
Hussein Chalayan – B-Side @ Spring Projects
At the same time as the king of wackily conceptual fashion takes over Lisson Gallery, Spring Projects is also holding an exhibition of work by the wonderful Hussein Chalayan. The aim of the exhibition is to show Chalayan not just as a designer but also as an artist in his own right. On display are sculptural works, films and animations - if they're half as good as his fashion designs you'll be in for an uncompomrising visual adventure.
From 17th September
Axel Hoedt @ Fashion Space Gallery
Fashion Spaces Gallery launches its new programme of exhibitions with a series of photographic works by Axel Hoedt. Under the curatorship of Magdalene Keaney, the gallery will showcase photography and design by both emerging talent and established names, and to kick it off, Hoedt presents a series of portraits taken during pre-Lenten carnival activities in southern Germany.
21st September
London Fashion & Art Event @ ICA
Contemporary handbag designer Loulou Bontemps curates a day-long art, fashion, and design event at the ICA to coincide with the tail-end of London Fashion Week. The aim of event is to act as an alternative to LFW and provide a showcase for some of the capital's finest young creative talent. Expect to see work across a range of media - jewellery design, stencil-work, women's couture, accessories, photography, collage and painting. The perfect alternative to LFW's constant queues and clipboards.
23th-26th September
London Fashion Weekend @ Somerset House
The weekend after London Fashion Week sees Somerset House - the official LFW venue - open up to the public with a weekend-long sale of massively discounted designer clothing. As well as bargain outfits, there's also a catwalk show that rounds up the key looks for Spring/Summer 2010 from the likes of Jasper Conran, Jaeger and Twenty8Twelve.
25th September
Wearable Art for Durable People @ Egg
The fashionistas' party returns to Egg for London Fashion Week, with a host of slamming DJs, a fashion show, performers and other visual delights. Jodie Harsh and Boy George keeps things flashily fun for all night-fashion debauchees.
30th September
Eyestorm – Fashion in Art @ The Music Room
A one-off fashion/art event organised by online art gallery Eyestorm on South Molton Lane this September. Sandwiched between London Fashion Week and Frieze Art Fair, this one-day show features work across a broad range of media by big names like Helmut Newton and Andy Warhol as well as hot young things like Dan Baldwin. Fashion + Art = Brilliant.
Click here to see all London fashion exhibitions.
Click here for things to do in London.
Click here for Spoonfed's London Fashion Week homepage.
Photography by Daniel Regan.
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