It's day one of London's first digital fashion week.
Not only has Covid-19 forced designers to get creative this season with how to communicate their collections in the absence of shows, but this is also the first ever "gender-neutral" fashion week, meaning several womenswear designers are present on the schedule.
From Preen to Rixo and Marques Almeida, a whole host of designers are participating this weekend who would typically only show at the women's event in September. By way of celebration, I picked the best item from each of these designers that you can shop right now.
From the perfect pair of summery jeans to a hoodie made using 1950's silk maps, these are the fashion week-friendly items I'm adding to my basket this week.
Xu Zhi's single breasted white blazer
It's summer! No it isn't! We're heading back into the office! No, no we're not. Finding this 2020 business a bit confusing? You're not the only one. Personally, I suspect this oversized, powerful-but-nonchalant single-breasted white blazer from Xu Zhi might just hold the answer to all my woes. Not out of place at a garden party or thrown over jeans and a t-shirt for a park walk, but ready and waiting to march you back into the office when the time comes. And damned useful for that September wedding guest outfit... should such a gathering remain on the cards.
Xu Zhi single-breasted blazer, £345 | Buy now
Marques Almeida's excellent fluff
It's pink and fluffy and completely, entirely silly. It's the handbag version of post-pandemic party, and I am in love.
Comes in yellow, blue and red too should you fancy one in every - sorry, a different - colour.
Feather and leather cross-body bag, £435, Marques Almeida | Buy now
Preen's stellar trench
It's summer, it's not trench shopping weather! *Looks outside*.... ahem, right then. Looks like this double-breasted asymmetric twill trench from Preen Line, which is now half price on Matches, might well be a switched-on shopping solution for this schizophrenic summer weather. Besides, a great trench is very rarely a bad idea.
Adel asymmetric double-breasted twill trench coat, now £415, Preen Line | Buy now
Natasha Zinko's dream jeans
Straight leg, high waisted, loose-fit, distressed but not cringingly so... if God could make a perfect pair of jeans for me it would be these. So flattering, so effortless, boyish but still sexy... I'm vibing in a big way. WBU?
Distressed straight leg jeans, now £295, Natasha Zinko | Buy now
Charles Jeffrey's Loverboy summer jumper
There's something about this multicoloured Shreddies fine knit jumper from Charles Jeffrey that just screams Cali summertime, surf boards and ice creams. Which is no mean feat for a merino and mohair black woolly. Perfect for that bracingly fresh British beach holiday we'll all be going on though, ey?
Shreddies jumper, £433, Charles Jeffrey Loverboy | Buy now
Mulberry's seventies aviators
Vintage-style square aviators are going to have a major moment this summer, once we're all released in the great outdoors. Pair with boho dresses, autumnal tones and throw some serious seventies shade.
Clifton square aviator sunglasses, £220, Mulberry | Buy now
Rixo's paisley cami
Can you have too many really great silk camisoles? No Brenda, you can't. I love the loud colour and unusual print of this pillarbox red one from RIXO, which would look lush tucked into high-waisted black denim and paired with black strappy sandals. It's firmly added to my bag.
Paisley silk camisole, £115, Rixo | Buy now
Raeburn's recycled hoodie
From jackets made from old parachutes to shorts made from solar blankets, Christopher Raeburn is a sustainable designer famed for reworking old, unwanted fabric into items of considerable charm. This grey hoodie features off-cuts from original 1950’s Silk Maps inserted as panels along the shoulders and outer sleeves. Silk Maps were originally given to RAF crewmen in WW2 and beyond into the Cold War period of the 1950's, helping them find a route out of enemy territory. Perhaps they’ll guide me out of my flat for a jog?
1950's silk map hoodie, £195. They're made to order - get yours here.
