My London Fashion Week February 2012 Exhibition highlights

I spent hours traipsing around the London Fashion Week February 2012 Exhibition so you didn't have to. (Seriously, you get blisters, back ache and Fashion Week ain't about dressing for comfort.)

Put the kettle on, kick off your killer heels and prepare for a visual assault featuring James Long, Victim, Tatty Devine, Sister by Sibling, JW Anderson, Yang Du, and the marvellous Michael van der Ham...

Anna Popovich at London Fashion Week

You may have noticed some radio silence yesterday; well that's 'cos I was unchained from the shackles of my desk (again) and finally embracing the best that London Fashion Week has to offer.

My highlights from Somerset House will follow, but fresh from The Exhibition I zoomed off to a v cool Off-Schedule show courtesy of model/designer Anna Popovich. As you well know, I'm not into dangling unaffordable (if delicious) designer garms like a golden carrot beneath your noses, so you'll be pleased to hear that Anna's debut ready to wear collection is colourful, crisp and not beyond the realms of possibility if you fancy treating yourself.

From colour pop maxis to simple gold pencil dresses (and a camel coat to get giddy over) Anna's AW12/13 collection - much like its designer - is fresh, pretty and graceful, with a glint in the eye. Uber-friendly, and flanked by her lovely parents, Anna mingled with the audience after the show - as did her models. Walked to very laidback, classically-tinged tracks, in flats or wedges, this collection looked effortlessly cool. And the post-show buzz from the crowd at a bustling urban venue in the depths of Waterloo would suggest that Anna Popovich is well on the up. Good on her!

Here's my view from the front row...

A last love letter from Liverpool

I'm ready to stop banging on about Liverpool now, but before I move onto all things Fashion Week, here's one last look at some more of the fabulous things Beatles City has to offer....

Grand Central Hall Liverpool: Fashion & accessories with Miss Millie and Preserved Vintage Clothing

One of the (many) things I love about Liverpool is that on each of my flying visits I've discovered something new and brilliant. One visit, Alma de Cuba. Another time, Jimmy Coburn.

This time my most exciting discovery (in addition to The Dressing Room) was Grand Central Hall - what a place. I'd never even heard of it, and we just happened to stumble upon it, but as soon as I saw the mad exterior, which has a sort of Moulin-Rouge-beaten-up-by-Gaudi appearance, I was through the doors...

The Beatles Story Liverpool

As well as browsing beaut boutiques, we also took time out yesterday to visit The Beatles Story on Albert Dock. It was a seven-year-old Beatle fan's dream (I've been many times before, but still) and the Fab 4D film added to the excitement for him.

The film shows at the second Beatles Story site on Pier Head (watch out for a stiff breeze off that Mersey if you walk over, as opposed to hopping on the shuttle bus) right next to the mighty new Museum of Liverpool (which has a few of Lily Savage's costumes in the foyer, borrowed from The Walker's Savage Style exhibition - hilarious).

Anyways, we got all damp (!) in the Fab4D theatre, and all enjoyed the Elvis and Us exhibition (u-huh) too.

After all that fun, there was just time for lunch at The Pumphouse before some shopping (and I found myself a fab little dress for Fashion Week at another vintage shop on School Lane, Flashback Boutique - tasty).

Here's the obligatory photo album...