KEY POINTS:
SUNDAY - First up is Ann-Sofie Back and it's an excellent start to the week! I love the venue - sponsored by Topshop, it's a cavernous basement down a back alley near the Baker St tube. Champagne is served - the good stuff! - and this feels like
a really proper fashion experience.
MONDAY - Today starts with John Rocha's sculptural looks in black with punches of strong orange, red and purple. Then it's back to the Topshop venue to see Emma Cook - complete with mint green and orange, tasselled leather and the most amazing tie-dyed patent leggings.
TUESDAY - Off across town to Basso & Brooke, with Gaudi-inspired frocks topped by delightfully insane hats by Stephen Jones that look like giant pebbles.
The tube in rush hour takes its toll and I only manage to catch the last few looks from Todd Lynn's show.
WEDNESDAY - Firstly, Jens Laugesen with razor-sharp tailoring in black and midnight blue. Then it's on to Richard Nicoll who's showing in the amazing Christ Church in Spitalfields. In complete contrast we then go round the corner to Fashion East - one of the shows I was most eager to see. It's a sponsored showcase where you go to find London's next new thing. The raw carpark-cum-warehouse in Brick Lane also has a champagne bar and everyone is hyped-up.
Three designers are on show: David David, Louise Gray and Noki, who recycle existing clothes into new hybrids. The crowd goes crazy when Skin from band Skunk Anansie closes the last section.
THURSDAY - I'm helping out Deryck Walker, a lovely Scottish designer who is showing in the Royal Academy Of Arts. It's great to be out back putting a show together. My favourite part is when the models are shown images of Vogue shoots from the 1950s to inspire their walk!
Tonight is major. It's the first time Vivienne Westwood has shown in London for many years. It's celeb-studded and there are so many people rocking Westwood outfits - rules about not wearing the designer's work to their show are out the window here. The energy is palpable, pumping music and charging models in a huge venue. Leaving the show I get a first-hand view of the paparazzi at work when I'm almost trampled by photographers chasing Yates/Geldof offspring.
And Westwood's packed after-party with huge red chandeliers and black mirrors proves hilariously over the top.
FRIDAY - Today two shows really stand out. Peter Jensen shows in a dinky community hall. Onstage there's a night sky backdrop and models have to leave the runway by bending down to go through a pup tent.
The Unconditional label is another surprise. The show feels quintessentially English but edgy. Models saunter through a beautiful old heritage building posing in front of tiled fireplaces, holding lapdogs or reading leatherbound books.
So, finally, what are you wearing in London next Winter? Well, you're considering each element of your outfit, top to toe, carefully: tights, bags, and gloves, plus you're definitely wearing a hat. So many shows had headwear as part of a complete look. You're also wearing ruffles and possibly fur, preferably long, shaggy and black. So many girls and a few boys in the audiences at shows were wearing vintage fur. And everything's in deep vibrant colours, especially blue, russet, plum and forest green.
