LONDON FASHION WEEK

Paris may be fancier, Milan more trend-setting and New York more important, but London Fashion Week has always been the most creative and exciting. Fearless of promoting new talent, many of the world’s most recognisable designers started their careers here, more than a few the product of local talent factory, the legendary arts and design institute that is Central Saint Martins.

Some of them continue to show here, most notably Vivienne Westwood, Paul Smith and John Rocha, rejoined by Chris Bailey for Burberry and Matthew Williamson, but the real attraction are the fringe events showcasing emerging designers. Don’t say no to an invitation to a show at the new headquarters at the beautiful Somerset House, but the real excitement is to be found at the peripheral “off schedule” events like On|Off at Victoria House (Bloomsbury Place), Fashion Scout at Freemasons' Hall (Great Queen Street), My Beautiful Fashion at the Old Sorting Office (New Oxford Street), Topshop's space at the Old Eurostar Terminal, and Fashion East at the Old Truman Brewery.