London Fashion Week, which happens twice a year, is arguably the most artistically diverse fashion week. New York Fashion Week is full of serious, edgy looks, while Milan and Paris are full of complex designer garments. But London Fashion Week gives the wild creatives and up-and-coming designers a chance to shine alongside some British classics like Burberry, Erdem, and Richard Quinn. affordable fashion versus designer fashion
The attendees filing in and out of the venues could be seen in sleek designer suits, oversized faux fur coats, body-hugging mini dresses, and skirts made of miles of tulle. I wondered, would they spot that my red mesh dress cost less that £20? Would they, with their Balenciaga bustiers, Tiffany's necklaces, and Chanel tote bags, call me out?
Videos regularly go viral making fun of those who can't, or won't, discard their wardrobes for new ones every six weeks, or spend thousands of pounds on trendy designer bags.
Can affordable fashion turn heads at London Fashion Week?
I decided to challenge myself at the biggest gathering of fashionistas in the United Kingdom, London Fashion Week, by wearing a £20 dress. I accessorised with a £5 pair of platform heels from an online discount retailer, an £8 handbag from the clearance section of ASOS, and borrowed an admittedly pricey necklace from my jewellery designer friend Samantha Siu.
So did I get dirty looks and snide comments? Did people point and laugh? In short - no.
Out in the real world, in the crowd of fashion experts, all I received were compliments. Not a single person asked if it was cheap, or if it was designer. No one demanded to pull down the collar to take a look at the tag inside. In fact, I ended up sitting in the front row in that dress.
The fact is, you do not need expensive clothing to look cool. If you want to buy something designer, and if doing that brings you joy, then by all means go for it, but don't feel obligated to do it.
Celebrities, brands, influencers, and content creators, like myself, are in the business of fashion, a business worth £1.4 TRILLION in 2023. It is part of the job to discuss, review, and suggest products, but the tactic of bullying people into buying new thing needs to stop, because if the experts at London Fashion Week can't tell, neither can your friends.
Article by CC Mason, @ccmasonrlly