Harris Tweed Style at LFW

When you think of Harris Tweed, some may conjure up images of Country Living, Downton Abbey or even your Grampa’s favourite cap. But in reality, the stunning Scottish textile is re-werking wonders on catwalks around the world. Designers from little to large are creating modern takes on an old-school staple and reinventing it for the future. While I’ve always been a fan of the heritage fabric, I am loving the new lighter and brighter creations even more, as seen last week at ‘Harris Tweed Style’ during LFW.

For me, my love for the fabric started when I first saw images of Coco Chanel and her matching sets. I actually think it was in an episode of The Simpsons where Marge found the iconic pink suit in a charity shop and I completely fell in love. I went straight to my Packard Bell, dialled up the internet and searched for the real deal. Since then, to me, Tweed has become synonymous with style and sophistication. But, in the same vein, the older connotations can leave some people thinking it’s a bit…well, twee. It is, however, incredibly resilient — not just in its durability, but also timeless sense of style which comes out in many unexpected ways; like in a rucksack ala Catherine Aitken or trims like my Elizabeth Martin co-ord. After watching the fashion show last week in Dover House (video below) the list really could go on and on.

Never one to do things by halves, I wanted to rock up showcasing the best of British. I completely fell for this Elizabeth Martin lace with Harris Tweed trim top and skirt duo with little booty shorts. Made 100% in Scotland from design to the fine lace, this little number definitely turned a few heads at Dover House. Apart from the impeccable quality and feel of her designs, what made me really fall for this look was the pockets. There’s something so chic about an evening look with pockets, doncha think?

Since the overall look was quite dark, I wanted to pop a few personality pieces in my favourite accent colour – orange. I’ve been gushing over British shoe designer Kat Maconie for some time and her Thea heels couldn’t have worked better with the outfit. Designed in her home studio in London, Kat’s style is like no other you’ve seen. With conceptual shapes and clashing colours, she’s the footwear rule breaker we have all been waiting for, which it was a match made in heaven when worn with my Sara Sboul collab clutch. I feel that this is the kind of outfit that I could pull out ten, twenty or even thirty years from now. Even though the look is sheer and there is a fluffy monster face on my clutch (!!!), it’s one of the many ways that Tweed can be revamped to suit your personal style.

Celebrating it’s sustainable growth over the past few years, Harris Tweed Style showcased the fabric in both traditional and modern ways. Presenting looks from UK designers such as Nigel Cabourn, Art Comes First and Walker Slater as well as two outfits from Margaret Howell’s recent LFW collection, it was a true celebration of our nation’s favourite fabric, and I couldn’t be more delighted to attend with my girl Honey Pop.

Nothing says luxury like ‘Made in Britain’ but Harris Tweed goes that step further, with the very core of it’s origins coming from herds of sheep around the country. The renewed love for the fabric in the fashion industry is a true testament to the skill and craftsmanship of the 175 skilled weavers and mills. Traditional fabrics like Harris Tweed have a renowned reputation for quality which helps drive designers to transform the fabric into stunning collections, who knows what shapes that are to come. How much do you love Harris Tweed?