Twice a year the LondonEdge show takes place in London. Spring/Summer and then obviously Autumn/Winter. And I love it!
Held in February and September, Londonedge brings together all the different vintage and alternative brands for 2 – 3 days to show off their new collections and products.
I have attended the last two events along with some amazing blogger babes and had a whale of a time. I wrote a couple of posts which you can read here and here
Now a few months ago I had an email inviting me to the Londonedge event in February. As a VIP Blogger! Well, I could hardly refuse that, could I?
Rounding up a few of the blogging ladies, we accepted the invites and set up a Whatsapp group to arrange meeting times and locations, and waited for the day to arrive.
First Class all the way
Sunday 12th February arrived and I headed to my local train station for my first class ride to London. I had arranged to meet up with Boo Brown, Lottie L’amour, Kerry Davis and Nikee Rayner. Also along for a wonderful ride was the amazing Rhina Duque-Thüs who I had been introduced to a few months ago.
Boo and Kerry arrived at the station first and we arranged to meet at The Parcel Yard in King’s Cross, a pub I have visited on a few occasions. I arrived in the nick of time before breakfast was finished, and then sprinting in last was the fabulous Nikee. We put our orders in and settled down to a scrumptious breakfast to set us up for the day.
Eggs Benedict for breakfast
Meeting Rhina at Kings Cross, we all headed for Angel,as the event was being held at the Business Design Centre. Checking in and getting our VIP badges, we waited for the lovely Lottie to get there and then we hit the hall and walked into a wonderland of colour and amazingness!
I am a VIP Goddess!
The best thing about Londonedge is the variety of businesses attending. You have everything from vintage dresses to Goth platform boots, from extreme hair dyes to bespoke Harry Potter dresses. And they are all happy to chat a discuss opinions and needs!
Blog Squad
The first one we hit upon walking in was Extreme Largeness who sell the most amazing pins, patches and accessories. They even had a selection of acrylic jewellery for sale. Now who can refuse a large parrot or a pineapple? Well obviously not me.
Want them all!
Love This!
One of the most exciting stalls for me was the Le Keux Cosmetics stall. Lynsey Le Keux has been a long time idol of mine and there she was in the flesh! We chatted for awhile and she was just a delight. She very kindly gave us all a pot of her lip colour. I chose bright pink for mine as it is a colour I don’t wear and she felt it would be a good match for me. Nikee very kindly redid my lips, and Lynsey was right. It looked amazing!
One of my idols, Lynsey Le Keux
Nikee working her make up magic!
We wandered up and down the aisles, looking at every kind of product, taking pictures and talking to the brand representatives. I have to say, I fall in love with something new each year, and this was no different.
Unicorns!!!
The Banned Apparel stand had all its wonderful lines, clothing, shoes and bags. Some of them are longstanding favourites, and then I saw these…. Just stunning!
Mermaid Shoes!
Banned Handbags – One of these WILL be mine!!
One the worst parts of visiting Londonedge is seeing so many items that just aren’t available for larger sizes. Many of the retailers we spoke to including Seamstress of Bloomsbury and Victory Parade had the most stunning of dresses and high waisted trousers, yet the biggest size they do is a 16/18 ffor the seamstress and 20-22 for Victory Parade. Whilst this is great for the smaller plus size lady, it doesn’t work for us size 24/26’s and even bigger. This is such a shame as the clothes were divine.
This Frida Kahlo print was stunning, as was the design. No good if you are bigger than a size 20 🙁
One of the things I love most about Londonedge is catching up with old friends and contacts.
Ronke from LoveURLook had an amazing range of dresses she designs, and is looking at potentially increasing her size range which currently stops at a size 20. However due to her ethically sustained, environmentally friendly attitude, she really is a delight to talk to. Hopefully with her vision to create larger sizes, I too could be sporting some of her fabulous fabrics soon!
We popped up to the cafe to get a drink and a snack and bumped into a couple of lovely ladies who work for Iron Fist. We first had contact with them last February when we had asked them about plus size lines. We had pleaded for a plus size range and were told it was something that they were considering. There was this Taco dress that we just wanted in plus size so badly!
London Edge
Jump forward a year and unfortunately it hadn’t come to fruition, but was still in the pipeline. We ended up taking part in a video giving our opinions and pleas for a larger size range. We are here, we have style, we have money. Now we just need the size range in order to support you and buy it.
Living Large at Londonedge
Lindybop had a fabulous range of clothing on display and there were certainly a few that I would love to own, including the gorgeous yellow and blue stripe dress their rep was wearing.
Lindybop New Lines
Nicki Asher from Voodoo Vixen is a passionate supporter of Plus Size clothing, and whenever we talk to her, she is so positive about the need for more designs and prints. Sadly in the coming months the range of plus sizes are all but disappearing from the season, however hopefully back with a bang later in the year. This playsuit however, was too good to not feature! I think it would look amazing on Rhina.
Too cute for words
Collectif were amazing to talk to this year. Receptive and passionate about creating what women want, we spent quite a long time talking about the reduced size range and how it stops many of us from purchasing their clothing. Their designer Julia, a vision in pink was fantastic to talk to and the amazing Pippa was really interested in a lot of our thoughts and opinions on where the plus size range needs to be. Fingers crossed that there will be some movement on the size range in the future.
Fruit Shoes – New lines from Collectif
Lola Ramona had the best display of the day. All of their products are drop dead gorgeous, but this year they had many presented on swings in complimentary colours and patterns. Such an unusual display and so fabulous.
Lola Ramona Gorgeousness
We eventually wore out little feet out and went to sit down for awhile. Knowing a catwalk show was due to start, we headed for the front row where we could have a good perusal of the show. And what a show it was!
Collectif, New Rock footwear, Hearts and Roses, Dr Faust and more on an X shaped catwalk. Bodysuits, Platform boots, Chunky metal jewellery and Goth style coats and lace dresses. Model after model displaying some stunning outfits and walking in the highest heels imaginable.
Gothic Glam
Some of the outfits were a little revealing, and sitting in the front row we definitely got quite an eyeful! In fact, Lottie L’amour didn’t know where to look!
Eventually we finished watching the catwalk and sat socialising for a short while before we needed to go and get some food as time was ticking on. Why the urgency, you may ask?
Well, we had tickets to go to the fabulous VIP Launch Day party at the Metalworks that started later that evening.
Hitting Byron Burger which is located opposite the Business Design Centre, we all placed our orders. I went for the double bacon cheeseburger with cheese fries. Whilst I really enjoyed the burger, I was not a fan of the cheese sauce on my fries. It felt really powdery and I was left a little disappointed.
Byron Burger – The jury is still out!
However, whilst we were waiting the amazing Nikee re-did my hair and also gave me a lesson on make-up. I am terrible at doing mine. I really don’t know what I am doing most of the time and I always stick to the same look. Black liner, mascara, a little blush and red lips. Nikee did an amazing job and I will be visiting her soon for lessons!
Beautified by the amazing Nikee
We left Byrons and walked the five minutes to the after party. Which was an event in itself!
Will there be a post about the party? Oh yes indeed there will be! Watch this space…..