'Twas the night before fashion week...

...and all through Baden Powell House, it's frantically busy -"go team Vauxhall Fashion Scout"!

The catwalks are up, the models are cast. The collections are ready for the fashion industry's delectation. Carpets are being layed, banners hung - and the media centre looks, frankly, unbelievable. More on that story tomorrow!

Showing tomorrow (Friday 20th) we have Julia Smith at 1.30pm, Alexandra Groover at 5pm, Kling by Kling at 5.45pm, and our exciting group show - the Ones to Watch comprising Might-T, Lu Flux, Alice Palmer and Studio_805 at 6.30pm. All that's left is to decide what on earth to wear...
Hannah Kane
Image: courtesy of Simon Armstrong. Check out Vauxhall Fashion Scout Director Martyn Roberts - not too fashion to get involved with the heavy lifting!

Model behaviour

Monday saw Vauxhall Fashion Scout's group model casting day - the only one of its kind in London. It's the only place where London Fashion Week designers (16 in total, including some not showing at Vauxhall Fashion Scout) can see a wide range of girls hailing from every continent of the globe, all in the same vast room. It's equally beneficial for the models too, they save time and money by dropping by to see all the designers in one central London location in less an hour. Why doesn't everyone do this?!

The fashion industry gets bad press for the pressure on girls to be too thin - but we saw with our own eyes models happily tucking into the food, refreshments and Vitamin Water provided for them. Eating disorder charity b-eat kindly manned the cloakroom (these girls really can carry an awful lot of *stuff* around with them!) and were on hand to give some friendly advice to those who asked.

So what were the designers looking for this season? Well, you'll have to wait and see the shows! What I can tell you is long hair is definitely back in. Oh how I wish I hadn't gone for an Agyness crop last season... Hannah Kane
Image: courtesy of Simon Armstrong

Welcome to The Fashion Scout!

Welcome to The Fashion Scout, a blog dedicated to news, catwalk reports, industry interviews, street style and sartorial humour brought to you live from the Vauxhall Fashion Scout Venue in the run up to, and over the duration of, London Fashion Week 20th-25th February 2009.

Now in its sixth successful season, Vauxhall Fashion Scout is London’s largest catwalk event for emerging designers. Over the five days of London Fashion Week the venue will host 21 unmissable shows showcasing a selection of the best new talent. We look forward to seeing you there!

Hannah Kane, Editor.

Vauxhall Fashion Scout show schedule announced

February 2009

Friday 20th
13:30 Julia Smith
14:45 KANGst

17:00 Alexandra Groover
17:45 Kling by Kling **
18:30 Ones to Watch – Migh-T, Lu Flux, Alice Palmer and Studio_805

Saturday 21st

11:30 Bryce d’Anice Aime
12:30 Romeo Pires
17:30 Horace
18:00 Theatre de la Mode **
18:30 ioannisdimitrousis

Sunday 22nd
14:45 Nico-D
15:45 Hemyca
17:00 Louise Amstrup
19:00 Olanic **
19:15 Victim
Monday 23rd
14.45 Harriet’s muse **
19:45 William Tempest (Merit Award)
Tuesday 24th
09:30 Cooperative Designs
11:45 TBC
12:45 Avsh Alom Gur
15:00 Blow Pop-up show
17:30 Emma Bell
19:30 FAD Charity Show

** presentations

Suzy Menkes spotted in the Vauxhall Fashion Scout Media Lounge, SS09

The friendly, welcoming Off Schedule Media Lounge at Vauxhall Fashion Scout proved itself a sure fire winner during the SS09 season with esteemed journalist Suzy Menkes of the International Herald Tribune just one of the many high profile visitors.

The perfect antithesis to the stress of fashion week, the lounge is a retreat for press to file copy or internet research on the free-to-use Apple Macs, tap into the free WiFi, catch up on the show videos, or simply relax on the roof terrace (yes, you can even have a ciggie!) with a much needed cup of (free) coffee. Look out for this season's brand new eyecatching design- it's very hush hush at the moment but I can assure you it'll be the only media centre worth staking out!

Hannah Kane

Ones to watch

For the first time this season Vauxhall Fashion Scout will present a group show comprising of Lu Flux, Migh-T, Alice Palmer and Andrew Bannister. This eclectic mix of young men’s and womenswear designers are in the first stages of their careers and their varied influences provide a snapshot into the promise of the next generation of fashion designers. Read what Vogue has to say! Hannah Kane

Image: Lu Flux Edinburgh College of Art Graduate Show 2006, courtesy of Chris Moore/Catwalking.

William Tempest wins first Vauxhall Fashion Scout Merit Award

This season sees the launch of the pioneering Fashion Scout Merit Award, a sponsored catwalk show at the Vauxhall Fashion Scout venue. This year’s winner as judged by a top panel of media, PRs, buyers, and fashion business experts is the hotly-tipped William Tempest. A graduate of the London College of Fashion, Tempest worked for Giles Deacon for two years before moving to Paris to work with Jean Charles de Castelbejac. December 2008 saw Tempest in the press with a dress he designed for Harry Potter actress Emma Watson and his London Fashion Week debut is much anticipated. Tempest commented, "It is fantastic to be the first recipient of Fashion Scout's new sponsorship award as it will not only provide me with a great platform to showcase my work but also the opportunity to develop my label. I'm really looking forward to working with the Vauxhall Fashion Scout team." Hannah Kane

Image: William Tempest design AW08.