Haute Style: London Fashion Week S/S 2011

London Fashion Week kicked off last Friday (Sept. 17-22), and just like the city itself, the collections are eclectic and lively, representing an ever-shifting society. Perhaps the most astounding aspect of London Fashion Week is its continued commitment to progressive digital integration, making all runway video and photos instantly available to a global audience. In addition, there is substantial support for emerging young designers of all backgrounds, especially compared with the relatively conventional fashion seen in New York or Milan. Artistic and experimental prints have been rampant on the runways, yet British tailoring continues to reign supreme.

Collections from Matthew Williamson, Vivienne Westwood, Mark Fast, Christopher Kane, Julien Macdonald, Twenty8Twelve, Burberry, Nicole Farhi, Paul Smith and Pringle of Scotland have brought out a bevy of celebrities and fashion editors who increasingly look to London Fashion for innovative creativity.

Monday also saw a memorial for designer extraordinaire Alexander McQueen. Sarah Jessica Parker, Naomi Campbell, Anna Wintour, Stella McCartney and Kate Moss were among those who were seen at St. Paul’s Cathedral in London. Wintour said of the late designer: “As a child he loved nothing more than sitting on the roof top and watching the birds fly by. He showed us everything was possible, dreams could become reality, but he left us with an even more exceptional legacy, a talent that soared like the birds of his childhood above us all.”

Haute Style will be following Paris Fashion Week from Sept. 28-Oct.6 and reporting to you the latest fashion trends as they happen, so be sure to check back for all the latest news!

For more of Carrie Mitchell’s style insights, visit StyleGroove.com and Fashionexpedition.org.