London Fashion Week: Christopher Bailey's last Burberry show and everything else you need to know

Hot on the heels of New York Fashion Week, London Fashion Week kicks off tomorrow; the second stop in the biannual month-long runway extravaganza that sees labels showcase next season’s collections.

London is well-known for showcasing established favourites alongside buzzy new labels, and delivering a line-up of original street style looks. Here are the details…

When is LFW?

This season, the shows start on Friday February 16th, running until Tuesday February 20th. The on-schedule shows are held at the British Fashion Council show space, at The Store Studios and on the Strand, although a host of designers choose to show at alternative venues, sending fashion editors whizzing all over the city.

The highlights?

Saturday evening sees Christopher Bailey’s closing runway show for Burberry - the designer is stepping down after 17 years at the label (as chief creative designer, then CEO). If you’re feeling nostalgic for the British label’s iconic show soundtracks, head to Apple Music where the label has published a playlist of it’s runway tunes (Saturday's track will be added post-show). Mulberry is back in London after a hiatus last season and, as well as the on-schedule show, the label is hosting a week-long series of events at Spencer House, including talks, interactive workshops and see-now-buy-now shopping initiatives.

What’s new?

Spanish label Delpozo is staging its debut London show this week, having been New York-based for the last five years. The move supports the label’s Sloane Street store, which opened in 2016, as well as reflecting the current buzz around London as a show location. Elsewhere in the schedule, wunderkind designer J.W.Anderson will launch his first co-ed show. His collections are always a hot ticket, so all eyes will be on the remixed format.

Who’s missing?

Topshop are skipping a season after 10 years on the London schedule, amid a company restructure. The high-street giant will, however, retain a presence at the event, hosting shows for designers including Preen, Molly Goddard and Shrimps, at a new show space on Floral Street in Covent Garden. Couture house Ralph & Russo are also missing from the London schedule, having launched their first ready-to-wear collection last season. The label showed in Paris during couture week, and is a contender for the role of Royal Wedding gown designer for Meghan Markle, so perhaps has other priorities... And Anya Hindmarch, a LFW institution, is not staging a show this season, though the label is very much in evidence in London via it’s chubby hearts outdoor installations which popped up in the capital yesterday, and will be on show throughout the week.

New names to know?

Cult young brands including Molly Goddard, Michael Halpern and Rejina Pyo are all shows that are bound to draw the crowds. And, as always, there are a host of brand new names launching this season at LFW. The Fashion East and New Gen schedules are a good bet for fresh talent, as is the Central Saint Martins MA show. We’ve got our eye on Matty Bovan’s first solo outing (he previously showed under the Fashion East umbrella) and London-born innovator and CSM graduate, Richard Quinn.

After the shows?

It’s the after parties… and London Fashion Week is famed for its blowouts. The invites to covet this season are Michael Halpern’s post show event, jointly hosted with Browns (sequins are essential dressing, we imagine). And the British Vogue post-BAFTA party - new editor Edward Enninful is hosting a Sunday night bash after the all-black awards.