London Fashion Week Spring 2015: What are the highlights?

Julian Assange may have cancelled his London Fashion Week appearance, but we reckon there are still plenty of reasons to attend. 

 

The Wikileaks founder had been scheduled to model for Vivienne Westwood's son Ben Westwood at a show in the Ecuadorian embassy, but it's been postponed to next season's show in February. 

 

But fear not. There are still plenty of shows worth seeing – although whether you can lay your hands on any tickets is questionable. You can, of course, head down to the main site at Somerset House, where you will be able to catch bloggers and fashion editors vying to have their pictures taken (if that sort of thing floats your boat). 

 

If you prefer your fashion at more of a distance from the crowds, LFW has fixed up live streams of the shows as they happen, or you can watch on a big screen from Whistles' new flagship in St Pancras station, along with free drinks and a DJ. 

 

Oxford Circus will also be returning to its tie-up with LFW organisers the British Fashion Council, hosting style seminars, competitions and shows for exclusive collections. Topshop, Coast and Warehouse are all offering styling sessions and Gap is hosting a distressed jean workshop. 

 

In terms of shows themselves, Burberry is arguably the jewel in the crown for the week, ticking boxes for celebrities (Harry Styles, Andy Murray and Bradley Cooper are among the A-listers who have attended previous shows, plus, of course, Anna Wintour), innovation and of course fashion. That show is on Monday at 1pm. If you haven't got tickets already don't even bother trying. 

 

Topshop Unique is also a headline grabber – and one of those rare beasts that manages to appeal to both high fashion and high street fans. Last season the Arcadia-owned business invited guests to “watch” the catwalk from its Oxford Street store using augmented reality. What will it be this year? The show is on today at 3pm. 

 

If you are a serious follower of fashion, you might want to look for some emerging names. 

 

Fashion bible Drapers has indentified six top tips for the week, including former Donna Karen designer Negarin Sadr, whose eponymous label is “playful, minimal and transitional”, Danielle Romeril who has won Topshop's Newgen sponsorship and Tokyo-born Keiko Nishiyama who is debuting as part of LFW's Ones to Watch event.