Music has long been a key part of the Burberry brand—not for nothing is Christopher Bailey’s most recent fragrance called “Beat.” Over the years, Bailey has tapped musicians to front his labels and walk his shows, and in the run-up to his latest Burberry collection—which hits London fashion week this Tuesday, September 21st, and will be live-streamed here on Style.com—he’s sharing a few new favorites exclusively with us. For the Burberry Acoustic series, Bailey tapped emerging English artists to record unplugged tracks in London. Listen to the first, “Jealousy,” by Patch William, above, and check back in with us for more. We’ll be debuting several more right up until the Burberry show. And as for the main runway event, you can catch it live right here, along with exclusive front-row interviews by Tim Blanks direct from London.
Nothing like a royal benediction to kick off fashion week, and last night, that’s exactly what London got. At the lawn of Clarence House (Prince Charles’ London pad), Mayor Boris Johnson, Livia Firth (the eco-minded Mrs. Colin), Laura Bailey and a smattering of ladies, lords and baronets attended an eco-sustainable fashion show, presented as part of the Prince’s START festival. (For those not in the know, the old guy is rather a hippie where the environment is concerned.) Appropriate pieces from Stella McCartney, Vivienne Westwood and Emma Watson’s collection for People Tree hit the catwalk, with Erin O’Connor leading the way. The garments were made of recycled fabrics, buttons, and military-issue shirts. (Scratch that, the Prince’s people are calling it “upcycled” rather than “recycled”—upcycled is “the more fashionable cousin.”) The whole thing charmingly embodied England’s old post-war credo of “make do and mend.”
Speaking of making do, who couldn’t make do with a vending machine that sells couture instead of M&M’s? LOVE’s Katie Grand and Selfridges got together to create such a vending machine, which will be housed for the duration of LFW in the lobby of the swankiest hotel in London, St Martin’s Lane. (Appropriate, considering it’s the temporary home to tons of visiting editors, models, photogs, buyers, and fashion clients.) Grand ran riot through Selfridges and cherry-picked her favorite items for the 32-slot LOVE Machine (below). It dispenses a Stella McCartney Falabella bag (left), an Alexander Wang leather and sequin dress, a one-off pair of Rick Owens trainers customized by Chrome Hearts, exclusive Dior nail polishes, Diptyque Mimosa candles exclusive to Selfridges in their signature yellow, and for the gents, Falke’s new “secret socks” for men. A word to the wise, though: Know your size. It’s tough to return an item to a vending machine.
—Afsun Qureshi
Photos: Courtesy of LOVE