Fashion round-up – 11 September 2012

Andrew Whitty brings us a round-up of all the latest fashion news.

Finally it’s here. After what feels like an age of refurbishment, the new flagship Burberry store has opened on London’s Regent Street. Occupying the majority of the block that separates Vigo Street and Heddon Street, this new fashion Mecca is a staggering twice the size of its New York counterpart. When So So Gay visited last week we were blown away by not only the space but also how it had been utilised. Maintaining and restoring many of the original features of the iconic building has been no easy task, admitted Christopher Bailey at the recent Vogue Festival. Walking through the Vigo Street entrance shoppers are greeted – if they look up- to an amazing glass dome flooding the shop floor with natural light, something missing from many retail posts. There’s plenty to keep you occupied at ground level too. Known for being tech savvy, Burberry have installed state-of-the-art pieces to take shopping to the next level. Pick up any piece of luggage, place it on one of the surfaces in front of the giant plasma screens and you can watch a detailed video of the craftsmanship that is involved in the creation of the product before deciding to purchase. Burberry 121 Regent Street is open from 10am to 9pm daily and 11am to 6pm on Sundays.

Across the pond, New York Fashion Week started the international show schedule. the best in American design showcasing what they think women should be wearing come summer 2013. Designers such as Ralph Lauren, Marc Jacobs, Alexander Wang and a certain Mrs Beckham presented a mixed bag of ideas from cocoon skirts to trouser suits. All eyes will descend on London on Thursday with the start of London Fashion Week.

Award ceremonies; you wait ages for one and then two come along at once. Both GQ and MTV held events last week to celebrate and honour who they think has made 2012 their year. First up in London at the Royal Opera House we have the GQ Men of the Year awards. Attended by everyone from Gary Barlow to Boris Johnson, both of whom were winners on the night, the ceremony brought out an eclectic mix of people from across genres of pop culture. The award for ‘most stylish man of the year’ went to X Factor host Dermot O’Leary. Other winners included Team GB for their outstanding performance at this year’s Olympic Games as well as Lana Del Rey, winner of ‘woman of the year’. In warmer climes, L.A. played host to the annual MTV Video Music Awards. A slightly younger crowd than the GQ lot, the biggest music stars on the planet were out in force dressed by the biggest stars in fashion. Rihanna, sporting a new pixie crop hairstyle was dressed by Adam Selman, Emma Watson stayed true to her British roots in a bright print dress by Peter Pilotto and Katy Perry looked more chic than usual in a floor length dress by Elie Saab. There was some menswear on show in the form of British boy band sensation One Direction. Before picking up an impressive three awards, the boys posed on the red carpet styled in their usual way, all blazers, skinny jeans and Converse. Making a surprise appearance was RuPaul – minus drag ensemble, dressed in a double-breasted white blazer and red trousers. Perfect for an event such as this.

Following in the footsteps of Sir Stuart Rose – him from M&S – and Harold Tillman, owner of Jaeger and Aquascutum, Natalie Massenet was appointed Chairman of the British Fashion Council this week. The net-a-porter founder was made CBE last year after selling the online shopping destination she founded for a cool 350 million dollars. Regarding her new role, Ms Massenet stated; ‘I am honoured and excited to be taking on the role of Chairman of The British Fashion Council. Over the past few years The British Fashion Council, led by Harold Tillman and Caroline Rush, has done an extraordinary job of building the profile of our industry worldwide. Not only do we have some of the best creative talent based in London but there are also great British designers working in some of the most high profile luxury design houses in the world. We also have the best understanding of what our industry contributes to the UK economy and what a significant player the British Fashion Industry is and can continue to be. My experience is in merging extraordinary creative content with innovative global commerce. From January, together with Caroline Rush and her team, I aim to apply these lessons to my new role, a role I take incredibly seriously’.  With her expert knowledge, business acumen and passion we here at So So Gay we can’t wait to see what the fierce fashionista has up her sleeve.