If you didn’t get a chance to visit London Fashion Weekend this year, save the date for next year because it’s well worth a visit. The event takes place in Somerset House, a day after the fashion pack have left London to attend Milan Fashion Week. London Fashion Weekend boasts both vintage and designer boutiques, spa treatments, catwalk shows, plenty of cafes and of course some freebies to keep everyone happy!

The day started with a mooch around the many stalls and boutiques opened up specially around the grandiose Somerset house. From racks of discounted designer clothing to vintage stalls selling exquisite fur coats, you could quite easily spend a small fortune. The shoe studio was a wonderland in the form of a mega shoe sale. From French Sole ballet pumps priced at just £45 and a range of cutting edge shoe designers (such as Finnish brand Finsk) it is worthwhile getting to the event at the earlier time to ensure the pick of the best. Those looking for a more relaxing form of retail therapy, head to the Chill Out Retreat. With Burts Bees offering free hand massages (who could resist), Xen-Tan spray tan booths and a Superdrug Manicure bar, it was another must-visit location on the map.

After a spot of lunch at Tom’s Deli (and quite possible the most delicious crayfish sandwich ever) next on the agenda was the British Fashion Council catwalk show. For mere mortals who didn’t get an invite to LFW, the fashion weekend catwalk was a concise look at the coming A/W trends presented in the chic showspace occupied by Fashion’s finest mere hours beforehand. Hosted by super stylist Grace Woodward; this year Jaeger, Bryce Aime and Osman A/W collections were presented, interspersed by two trend round ups entitled ‘The Great British Autumn’ and ‘Rive Gauche.’ Thoroughly enjoyable, the show certainly gave the audience great styling ideas and pinpointed the must have items of the season.

Fashion is thirsty work; so the event also has a couple of chic pop-up cocktail bars, perfect for rounding off the Fashion Weekend party. We enjoyed a drink at The Hoxton Gin bar before heading off to Boutique Street for a final spot of shopping. Other highlights included seeing the amazing Paperself eyelashes being applied, taking advantage of the free cupcakes at 3pm and generally soaking up the trendy atmosphere whilst getting tons of streetstyle inspiration. A highly enjoyable day out, we will definitely be descending on Somerset House again next year!