DAY
Saving my car from the pound wasn't how I had envisioned my 4th day of the most glamourous week in London starting, and I was eager to escape back to the fabulous 'movie-like' world of fashion week. LFW is like escapism and also a pretty addictive drug - the more you have, the more you want!

Anyway after the car debacle, I got to Freemasons Hall extremely late (blame the argumentative man at the car pound!) for the Ada Zanditon show but luckily they were running behind schedule too- Yey! It was made 10million times more exciting by the lovely guestlist girl from Vauxhall Fashion Scout looking up as I arrived and excitedly panting 'I'm sorry Gabby - do come this way' - WOW!! I was then ushered straight to a prime spot in the front row to echo's of 'Gabby Young is here' across the crew...naturally I pinched myself furiously to discover that this was in fact some strange, wonderful alternative reality and one that, I admit, I could happily get used to!



-ADA ZANDITION @ V.F.S
Being last year's 'One To Watch' does put a lot of pressure on the designer's new collection and I can happily say she didn't disappoint. There were gorgeous shift dresses with angular panels floating above the body, bright pink prints, structured jackets and, at the end, a stunning full length blue silk dress (at least, I'm pretty sure it was silk but I'm just a musician!!)




Then I sauntered upstairs -quite content to be by myself as the people of Vauxhall Fashion Scout are SO friendly and really made me feel welcome and dare I say it- a bit of a celebrity! I went back to the showroom and caught up with new friends who just happen to be incredible new designers - Silja Manninen and Viking Wong in particular. I then went to the next exhibition and my highlight of the week...




-RACHEL FREIRE @ V.F.S
Wow, wow, wow! I LOVE this girl... Firstly the music was 'When I Grow Up' by Fever Ray - my favourite song of 2009, which grabbed me before I even saw the first model, but when I did I realised how appropriate the soundtrack was. There was drama, enigma, fantasy and a haunting quality in this astonishing range of woolen shoulder structures, huge headpieces like antlers - it was very animal themed and then there were metallic shoulder pads and a hat that looked like a CD rack. My descriptions and pictures do her no justice but in my opinion LADY GAGA might want to look her up - hopefully I'll get there first!! I was blown away.





Whilst waiting for the next show in none other than the VIP seats, a very exciting thing happened - a wonderfully eccentric man with a painted blue ear leaned over to me and said 'I've been really enjoying your blog'!!!!! YEY! Run Riot - we are famous at fashion week!! I walked elated on a constant flow of cloud 9's to my front row seat!





-ALICE PALMER @ V.F.S
I also liked this (good day!) Mainly because the contoured wool with bat inspired spikes and features looked so COSY! AND there were black and white dresses - very me, on a cold day! I got papped a few times at this one - getting pics on my 'Pandora' iphone for this blog!



This was a busy day so an opportunity to sit down and watch a film was very welcome!
Fashion films are ...well...interesting...I couldn't help but picture a South Park style parody of them! I did love the clothes in the main one though. The short film was dark and spooky and it featured the astounding, innovative designer- Marko Mitanovski whose clothes I am madly in love with - Gothic, lace, Victorian style, dark and theatrical! YES!!

-WILLIAM TEMPEST @ V.F.S
If this was a festival, Tempest was the headliner of the 2nd biggest stage. I was not in the front row for this one as when people like Leona Lewis are on the guestlist I can fully understand why little old me would be pushed to the back. I didn't mind though, I just felt honoured to be there. William Tempest is a man of many beautiful, feminine flowing gowns and tonight was exactly that. The last 4 were particularly stunning. I can understand why Leona wore one for the Brits (she didn't turn up by the way...!)

DAY 5 - the last day...
Only one show left for me and it was menswear day...



-ORSCHEL READ @ V.F.S
This was one I was looking forward to - from constant googling the week before I geekily researched every designer I had been invited to, and Orschel's site was full of oversized, mature, dramatic costume - Victorian shoulders and lace collars. His new A/W collection was great but this time we saw florals, tweeds, pannelled jackets, silk trousers and chiseled-jawed men with bare torsos covered in incredible tribal jewelerey -big, bold and beautiful. I want to wear men's clothes now!!






So that was it for LFW - but I didn't go home and sob... instead I went to my favourite shoe shop - Irregular Choice and picked up 2 fastasmagorically wonderful pairs of boots that I have been given as an endorsement thanks to the lovely girls at Dust PR! I LOVE MY NEW SHOES!! I also popped into London College Of Fashion to witness a brilliant exhibition of student's fashion projects including my lovely, extremely talented friend, Sofia Kalaichidi's origami inspired garment ideas. You will be seeing more from Sofia- very soon (4th March in fact as she is an integral part of the launch of my clothing line- Salon Gabrielle)

I have had an amazing week. It's been an education and great fun. I met some wonderful people and seen some inspiring talent.Thanks to Miss Kiki for inviting me along on all these adventures and embracing me into her world, to Vauxhall Fashion Scout for all your incredible hospitality and star treatment. For Run Riot for letting me gabble on about fashion and supporting me and my music and to YOU (yes, you!) for reading... with any luck - I'll be back!!


Gabby's band: ...
Gabby's blog: ...
Miss Kiki Salon Presents: ...
You can buy the silk scarves Gabby was wearing here: ...
Vauxhall Fashion Scout: ...


More information on Gabby's single launch here: ...

The Guardian on Gabby: ...