Mmm, now I am all for this whole ‘recessionista shopping’ thing that everyone is talking but the great thing about the twice yearly Fashion Weeks are that they do make for a nice escape from the whole sales tag bargain bin hunt that we shoppers have become obsessed with during the credit crunch.
Even if I can’t afford a single item that sashays its way down the catwalk, I still like the whole expensive and lavish vibe experience of Fashion Week. Well, for those of you that perhaps don’t agree or wish there was something a little more attainable in the form of Fashion Week, forget New York, Paris or Milan, in September this year, High Street Fashion Week will be taking over Oxford Street. Gok “ love ya bangers” Wan eat your heart out!
Usually Oxford Street is filled with swarms of tourists and dare I say it, boring shoppers who have failed or too lazy to discover any other inch of London for their shopping needs (well apart from Topshop which I will of course excuse), but for one week only and launching on September 7, High Street Fashion Week will serve as a way of an introduction to the main London Fashion Week which will take place at Somerset House from September 18-22.
It hasn’t been stated exactly what is on the agenda but it has been confirmed that Uniqlo, Debenhams, John Lewis and Topman have signed themselves up to be a part of the event and of course, in the economic climate whereby high street stores are taking a severe kick in the wotsits and struggling to make profits, I’m sure that other favourites including Topshop, Miss Selfridge and Dorothy Perkins will soon be signing up to take part.
I wonder if it will be anything like the Fashion Week we all know and love with hectic catwalk shows, all manner of big hair do’s skinny skin skin models and goodie bags at the champagne fuelled parties? Perhaps on a lesser scale and I’m thinking it is far more likely to be an unmerciful act of encouragement (or subconscious bribery) to get shoppers to spend their hard on cash on clone-like attire, although it has been claimed that each brand will be offering exclusive previews on their new collections and various promotions. I can hardly wait.
Am I being cynical?
Probably.
Oh but there will be champers so at least there is a little silver lining on the cloud of the High Street.
It is also rumoured that prior to the event Oxford Street shoppers will be asked to vote for their favourite celebrity ‘High Street Queen’, the winner of which will be making appearances during the fashion week.
I bet they will indeed. I just hope it is someone such as Cheryl Cole or even who can perhaps inject a bit of class and style to the whole affair but I’m imagining it will one of the usual suspects - someone far more boring, irritating, unimaginative and looking for a career boost. Oh the anticipation!