London Fashion Week AW24 Highlights
Condé Nast College provides a rundown on our highlights and takeaways from the AW24 runways of London Fashion Week 2024.
London Fashion Week 2024 Rundown
The A/W24 collections shown at London Fashion Week 2024 last week heralded the 40th anniversary of the event. Inaugurated in the 1980s by Lynne Franks, London Fashion Week continues to be the breeding ground for rising fashion design talent.
The AW24 shows continued London’s legacy including a welcome return to the runway for historic British house, Dunhill after a four year hiatus under the stewardship of their new creative director Simon Holloway.
Here we round up some of the best of London Fashion Week A/W 2024.
Burberry
Daniel Lee’s third Burberry collection celebrated the brand’s outdoor heritage with a focus on warmth and protection. Set in Victoria Park, Amy Winehouse provided the soundtrack to the show – a welcome complement to the return to the classic Burberry colour palette of muted tones in the form of parkas and trenches. Pattern clashing was pulled together with oversize pinstripe blazers topped off with Burberry plaid headscarves for both mens and womenswear.
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Aaron Esh
London-based designer Aaron Esh unveiled a brilliant winter collection at Sarabande, inspired by the dress codes of his inner circle. Reflecting his city’s ‘rhizomatic’ streets. Esh’s designs combined disheveled sensuality with intriguing tailoring. From slinky bias-cut dresses to hooded tailored jackets, his pieces showcased craftsmanship and construction while maintaining an effortless vibe. Esh’s ode to subculture-infused silhouettes and everyday dressing marked a significant evolution in his burgeoning career.
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Richard Quinn
Richard Quinn’s Fall 2024 collection captivated with floral fantasy and timeless elegance against a backdrop of pink. The show unfolded with opulent black-and-white evening wear, transitioning into bursts of colour and texture with tea dresses and his signature caped gowns. Breaking tradition, the show concluded with a stunning bridal capsule featuring rosette-embellished gowns and delicate tulle veils. Quinn’s unparalleled creativity left a lasting impression, solidifying his position as a visionary in the fashion world.
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JW Anderson
Jonathan Anderson’s A/W 2024 collection at Marylebone’s Seymour Leisure Centre explored the nostalgia of everydayness, juxtaposing seduction with the grotesque. With oversized stitches and blown-up adornments, the collection featured knit dresses and layers of ribbed underwear, referencing British heritage. Anderson’s reflection on Britain’s past and its reinterpretation through contemporary fashion highlighted the evolving nature of nostalgia.
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Simone Rocha
Simone Rocha’s A/W 2024 collection, titled ‘The Wake,’ marked the conclusion of works exploring themes of anticipation, procession, and mourning. Inspired by Queen Victoria’s mourning attire, the collection featured faux fur, crystal-embellished corsets, and tie-hem anoraks. Soft-toy lambs added a mythical touch, while meticulous craftsmanship bridged the gap between past and present, creating a hauntingly beautiful narrative.
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Roksanda
Roksanda’s A/W 2024 collection, presented at the Tate Britain drew inspiration from architect Le Corbusier’s holiday cabin and embraced a palette of soft, comforting colours. Melton wool and boucle fabrics evoked interiors and home comforts, while nods to windbreakers and wellingtons added a contemporary and practical seasonal twist. The collection culminated in tent-like taffeta dresses, symbolising a return to the warmth of a lavishly decorated home.
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16Arlington
Marco Capaldi’s A/W 2024 collection explored the elegant side of the monstrous. The collection infused sharp, streamlined designs with flourishes of strangeness. Diaphanous white dresses and clattering tinsel looks offered a refined twist on Halloween themes, reflecting Capaldi’s celebration of human nature and rejection of norms.
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Dunhill
Dunhill’s collection celebrated the brand’s rich tailoring heritage and tradition of luxury dressing. From motor racing-inspired jackets to elegant evening wear, the collection epitomised refinement and it conveyed international sophistication, signalling a return to classicism for the iconic British brand.
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As London Fashion Week 2024 came to a close, it left behind a legacy of innovation, creativity, and timeless elegance. From established icons to rising stars, the event continues to push boundaries and redefine the landscape of global fashion. On to Paris and Milan!
For those aspiring to join the ranks of fashion’s elite, Condé Nast College offers a range of courses designed to nurture talent and unleash creativity. Explore our programmes and embark on your journey towards a career in fashion today.
Words by James McCarthy