I often think of fashion as a little bit like an excitable, blithe butterfly flitting across a meadow: so very thrilling to track and plot its unexpected turns in a distractingly beautiful milieu. And an opportunity to be one of the first to see Spring / Summer 2016 lead butterflies was not to be missed!

^ This is the world’s most fashionable car park (the new ‘concept’ meadow). From today until Tuesday, the NCP car park in Brewer Street in Soho will host London Fashion Week.

I was invited to attend designer J. JS Lee’s SS16 show. I was so excited, as it’s my first London Fashion Week. I made my way through the swarm of street-style seekers and shutterbug snappers and walked through the dark car park entrance – a bit like an uphill catwalk for the press – and found the show space.

Jackie JS Lee is a fashion designer from South Korea and worked as a Senior Pattern Cutter in Seoul for five years before coming to London to complete an MA at Central Saint Martins.

J. JS Lee’s show was the first of the week in the new LFW space. I found my seat, the lights changed and the music started.

There were several different and contrasting stories in the collection to tell, making it a very exciting fashion narrative to behold for the first time.

Chic, minimalist, warm monochrome tailoring…

Starkly contrasting with the sweet, carefree, candy coloured striped ensembles…

The inspiration was the supportive structure of the ‘open birdcage’: Jackie Lee celebrates freedom and confidence represented in the cool, relaxed shape of her clothing.

Feminine dresses adorned with playful and romantic ruffles:

I absolutely loved these flared culottes with corresponding shirt:

(^ spot veteran fashion journalist Caryn Franklin in the front row taking pics on her phone!)

There was a strong 70s vibe through flared navy and cream trousers and tops that positively swished and swooped down the catwalk:

I liked the clever use of mirrors on the ceiling to help see the clothes from a different angle.

Wide leg yet leg lengthening vertical stripes in blues and white:

The show closed with a quick flourish of all of the clothes once more…

Before everyone departed to explore London Fashion Week further.

J. JS Lee’s show was absolutely superb. Generous, gentle androgynous silhouettes, sugar-sweet colours, fun frills and thrills. Roll on Spring / Summer 16!

For those interested, I wore black culottes (identical pair here)
French Connection Coat (purchased years ago)
Clarks Shoes (now on sale!)
Burgundy Paul Costelloe bag – also on sale (Burgundy bags are a must have for this Autumn and this is a great one!)

Thank you very much to Modus Publicity for having me!