Tuesday, 22 February 2011

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Sex and the Style Editor

Alison Tay

SEE VIDEO My London Fashion Week Awards

Access all areas at the best shows and front rows

Thanks Marc Jacobs Daisy Eau So Fresh for primping my ride

It's been a long, hard week of runway shows and partying for London's fashionistas.

My London Fashion Week life-savers this season included my ASOS Premium sheepskin cossack hat to keep out the London chill - apologies to anyone sitting behind me -  and my vintage plaid cape from Urban Renewal at Urban Outfitters.

And I couldn't have done without my limited edition primped up Marc Jacobs Daisy Eau So Fresh
taxi to chauffeur me to the shows - the only way to travel during London Fashion Week!

Thank you Coty!

Marc Jacobs Daisy Eau So Fresh is in stores now...

Here's my access all areas edit of the best shows and front rows at London Fashion Week AW 2011-12.

Best Soundtrack

Despite having the best soundtrack on the show schedule - Lil Kim's Put Your Lighters Up, Nicki Minaj's Roman's Revenge and Busta Rhymes' Gimme Some More, PPQ are superstitious about their playlist.

‘I won't reveal the music to the show beforehand because I always think it will jinx it,' PPQ's Amy Molyneaux told me.

And spinning off PPQ's hip hop vibe, Sam Burnett from the Rush Artist Team plaited models' hair in Snoop Dogg inspired gangsta plaits, which may also win the award for best hair reference. 

Best Front Row

I was super-excited to join hot Brit actress Gwendoline Christie on the front row at House Of Holland, along side Alexa Chung,Pixie Geldof, Nicola Roberts, Jaime Winstone and Nick Grimshaw who limped in on crutches.

Meanwhile backstage, Henry Holland's friend and mine Adam Reed from Percy & Reed prepped low-slung ponies BaByliss Pro, while MAC Pro make-up superstar Lucia Pica made lips the main make-up focus by outlining their pouts with MAC Lip Pencil in Cherry, filling in with MAC Lipstick in Ruby Woo and adding a 3D
dimension with MAC Lipmix in Crimson.

I even spotted model Jade Parfitt making off with one of the outfits after the show!

Best New Face

Introducing Ms Charlotte Free. The 17-year-old is known for signature dyed pink hair and a laid back LA attitude, and has been hailed by Jeremy Scott as his new muse.

Charlotte opened the Vivienne Westwood Red Label Show and walked from Danielle Scutt, Samantha Ronson and House Of Holland this season.

I caught up with Charlotte backstage at Vivienne Westwood Red Label as she was having her hair teased into place by L'Oreal Professionnel's Malcolm Edwards.

Showing me her nerdy wolf T shirt, Charlotte told me, 'I'm a total a geek and I rock it!'

Best Backstage Vibe

Julien Macdonald wins my awards for the calmest fashion designer under pressure, even though seamstresses were stitching lace onto his couture gowns minutes before the start of his catwalk show.

I loved hanging out backstage with Julien, L'Oreal Paris hair supremo Martin Cullen and make-up pro James Kaliardos who brought Julien's glam rock goth vision to life.

Best Fashion Party

There was the long list of model and fashion parties popping across London, but without a doubt the most fun was the Vivienne Westwood ‘Get a Life' Palladium Jewellery launch in the exquisite surroundings of The Wallace Collection.

As well as her majesty Dame Viv herself, there were rock goddesses Beth Ditto and Marina & The Diamonds, catwalk royalty Lily Cole and Libery Ross, The City fashionista Olivia Palermo with a live acoustic set from Jessie J.

‘I read all your magazines! I can't believe you're screaming for me!' exclaimed girl of the moment.

My personal party highlight was being sandwiched between Spandau Ballet's Gary Kemp and X Factor's Diana Vickers during Jessie J's blistering rendition of Do It Like A Dude!

The Vivienne Westwood ‘Get a Life' Palladium Jewellery Collection will be available in Vivienne Westwood London and LA boutiques from March 2011

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