New York Fashion Week might have the annual Prada party – and it might be where Posh decided to reveal her Audrey Hepburn pixie crop – but the UK capital boasts three of its own very important ladies for Spring/Summer 2009 London Fashion Week.


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We’re talking Luella, Stella and Vivienne. Former British Vogue editor Ms Bartley is showing her collection at Claridge’s for the third season running, and with fans like Kate Moss and Lily Allen, the celeb turnout should be high Monday morning. Not bad, considering Luella has admitted she came up with the idea to design while intoxicated.

PETA-pleaser Stella McCartney is rolling out her second showing for Adidas on Tuesday. Expect adorable active wear for the glammed-up yoga set. Then there’s Vivienne Westwood’s commercial line, Red Label, on Thursday night. The designer who helped break punk in the ’70s is still going strong, and with about four decades of experience she knows how to put on a show.

But let’s not be sexist: London Fashion Week also boasts a strong male-designer line up. How about Christopher Kane, who’s made Donatella Versace and American Vogue boss Anna Wintour his pets? He told fashion week staffers his current influences are “Tippex, clogs and cartoons”. Dissect as you will.

Or there’s Henry Holland (model Agyness Deyn’s bestie), who thankfully didn’t die off after Topshop and every other high-street retailer copied his rhyming, neon-printed t-shirts a few seasons ago. Or Modernist designers Abdul Koroma and Andrew Jones, who are basing their new pieces on a bride’s trousseau.

Needless to say, London has its share of fashion smarties, and it tends to break a few trends that even Paris and Milan miss. Check back with LondonNet next week, when we’ll have runway reports, gossip and snapshots from all the best shows.

And don’t forget parties. You didn’t hear it from us, but Tim Burgess of The Charlatans is signed up to DJ at a certain after-party, and even Rhys Ifans’ band The Peth is set to make an appearance. Dress appropriately, London.