London Fashion Week is among the most anticipated fashion events of the year. As one of the most prominent cities in the world, it draws in a myriad of must-see collections. From classic brands to up-and-coming designers, if you’re looking to spot the next big trend, it’s the place to be.

There are many “fashion weeks” that occur in various cities throughout the year. The four most recognizable weeks are in Paris, Milan, New York City and London. They happen twice annually, around February and September, and display clothing that will be “in season” about six months into the future.

However, the shows aren’t just about allowing consumers to do some very premature shopping. They also provide an opportunity for designers and brands to showcase their hard work and provide inspiration for other artists, like fashion students.

Lainey Volz, a third-year studying fashion and textile design, is currently studying abroad at the London College of Fashion. She attended a London Fashion Week show hosted by the brand LEM.

“It was a crazy road to get there,” Volz said. “For safety, they don’t launch the London Fashion Week schedules that far out because they don’t want people to be able to figure out where expensive clothing and jewelry is going to be.”

Fashion week runway shows are often invite-only, and with such ambiguous scheduling, it can be difficult to secure a spot. Luckily, Volz and her friend reached out to LEM and were invited to attend the show.

“I was overwhelmed with excitement because this has been a lifelong dream,” Volz said.

Fashion week shows are revered for embracing a high performance quality that uses various elements such as the venue, makeup and models to accentuate the artistry of their designs. 

LEM’s show was held at the Royal Academy of the Arts.

“It suited the environment very well because everything was very painterly. A lot of fabrics looked like paint strokes,” Volz said. “It all seemed inspired by classical art.”

Arynn Baginski, a third-year in fashion and textile design, is also studying abroad in London and had the opportunity to attend the LEM show and a showcase by the graduate students in Fashion and Textiles at Central Saint Martins. 

Baginski explained how attending fashion shows and studying abroad has inspired her to think outside the box with her coursework and designs.

“You’re encouraged to be more avant-garde with the use of different materials,” Baginski said. “This is a chance to learn different design processes and take new classes.”

Fashion weeks are also great places to spot incoming trends. The February and September fashion shows are dedicated to “ready-to-wear” fashion. This means that most pieces will go directly from the runway into stores.

Apart from directly shopping new collections, there are often specific colors, silhouettes and fabrics that show up consistently throughout many shows. This is often an indication that you should start digging through your closet for items with those qualities, as they’ll likely be trending during the upcoming season. 

“The cool thing about the Central Saint Martins’ show was that, for a lot of people, this is how they launch their brand, so they’re exploring a lot of different things,” Baginski said. “However, I have been seeing a lot of sleeker silhouettes.”

Sleek silhouettes, painterly prints, boat necks and lace have all been spotted at London Fashion Week and are predicted to be trends for Fall/Winter 2025. 

Trends come and go, so remember to check your closet and local secondhand stores before buying anything new. Personal style and sustainability are always a fashionable option.