by Annie Vischer
If there’s one thing that steals our gaze at London Fashion week more than the fashion and beauty revelations strutting down the catwalk, it’s the star-spangled front rows. Thus far this month’s London Fashion Week has not disappointed, and here are our pick of the best London Fashion Week AW14 ‘frow’ appearances to date.
Burberry Prorsum AW14 was one of the most hotly anticipated shows of the weekend, and the front row turnout is a mark of just that. Actresses of the moment Felicity Jones and Hayley Atwell were joined by pop names that are rarely out of both the charts and glossy mag headlines, Paloma Faith and Harry Styles.
Anna Wintour was of course in attendance, and no show is complete without the Olivia Palermo parade. She swished her way along the line of waiting cameras to enter the show space, hair a glossy example of blow-dry perfection, outfit a conservative yet impeccably tailored wonder.
A Hollywood cherry on the front row cake for Burberry Prorsum AW14 was Bradley Cooper. And whilst we’re sure Bradley appreciates a good tartan-lined trench or two, the reason for his presence was made plain as day as soon as Miss Waterhouse hit the runway.
The Hollywood A-Lister can rarely seem to take his eyes off his girlfriend as it is, but with skin glowing angelically under the spotlights of the catwalk, hair teased into the best version of her trademark just-got-out-of-bed do and sporting the best of what Burberry Prorsum AW14 had to offer, he had more reason than usual to be utterly captivated. He took prime spot next to Anna Wintour on the front row, and it seemed he simply couldn’t get enough. Move over Harry Styles, Burberry has a new heartthrob ‘frow’er.
Topshop Unique may have opened its AW14 show doors to the public at the Tate Modern, but it’s front row was an entirely exclusive affair. Fashion blogger and Revenge star shared a pew with teen superstar Kendall Jenner, Vogue royalty Anna Wintour, Topshop mastermind Sir Philip Green, Kate Moss and her sister Lottie. Poppy Delevingne used the event to showcase a flash of toned midriff. Her ensemble would have made us shiver had she not added the requisite fashion week staple – the oversized coat worn over the shoulders in a oh-so-en-trend cape-esque manner.
This season saw the first Hunter Original show take to the stage. The brand, famed for its rubber wellington boot creations has ventured into the world of high fashion after some careful and inspired steering of the company by the ingenious Creative Director that is Alasdhair Willis. The crowd in attendance to witness Hunter’s first fashion week foray included the likes of Stella McCartney, Jessie J, Arizona Muse and Katy B.
Daisy Lowe is never far away, wherever you may be at fashion week. She turned brunette Brigitte Bardot as she sashayed in to take up her place on the front row at the Richard Nicoll AW14 show. Her look was without the usual fashion statements and pre-season exclusive pieces, it was simple, alluring and refreshingly looked rather comfortable. Minus the indulgently large shades, we could quite imagine cosying up on the sofa on a Sunday evening in that particular ensemble. And when you spend as much time at London Fashion Week as Miss Lowe does, then you can surely afford to treat one show much like a relaxed spot of weekend TV viewing.
Whilst not strictly a fashion show in itself, the weekend also brought the launch of the new Mulberry and Cara Delevingne collaboration. It’s been a long time coming, and not entirely unpredictable, nevertheless the fashion throng was out in force to celebrate its arrival. Cara pal Jourdan Dunn was an inevitable attendee, whilst sisters Poppy and newly married Chloe also made an appearance. Party goers Joan Smalls, Kelly Osbourne and Nick Grimshaw also made use of the event to drink up and party the day away.
The Emilia Wickstead shows always draw in the tall, lithe and elegant crowd, and a front row peppered with Portia Freeman, Olivia Palermo and Laura Bailey will never do anything to dispel that stereotype. All dressed classically and femininely with an added edge, they were the perfect ring-side ambassadors of the brand.