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What's not to love about London Fashion Week? Unconventional designers, quirky models and daring ensembles – both on and off the runways – make every London Fashion Week a little bit different than those other fashion weeks in New York, Paris and Milan.
The iconic Mrs. B, Joan Burstein of Browns, still remembers the magic of early London Fashion Weeks: "The early days of John Galliano were just breathtaking. I also loved Jean Muir, who everyone seems to have forgotten about. But they just keep getting more and more wonderful each year."
This year, London Fashion Week celebrates its 25th Anniversary and is pulling out all the stops, including a new venue on the Strand, top front-row fixtures like Anna Wintour and Kate Moss and luring prodigal British designers back home.
Christopher Bailey has brought the iconic Burberry label back to its roots on the London catwalk, while other designers who have gone back and forth across the pond like Matthew Williamson and Jonathan Saunders are showing here again this season.
London has long been known as a bastion of creativity, the breeding ground for fashion's eccentrics, enfants terribles like John Galliano and Alexander McQueen, who are now two of the biggest names on the international fashion scene.
The great Vivienne Westwood has brought us everything from punk to pirates to Carrie Bradshaw's wedding dress, all the while campaigning for her favourite global causes.
25 years of London Fashion Week
John Galliano relaxes at London Fashion Week in 1992. A chameleon who loves to dress up, here he rocks a London punk, grunge circa early '90s look.
25 years of London Fashion Week
House of Holland gets on the international fashion map with his bright bold tees emblazoned with model slogans like Wham Bam, Thank You Stam.
25 years of London Fashion Week
British model Erin O'Connor models an otherwordly feathered creation by designer extraordinaire Alexander McQueen at for his s/s 2001 collection.
25 years of London Fashion Week
Matthew Williamson last showed at LFW in 2007, until his return this season. Not only were his clothes a source of excitement, but music legend Prince performed at the show, flanked by two backup dancers.
25 years of London Fashion Week
Before becoming a designer in her own right, Victoria Beckham was Posh Spice. She hit the LFW catwalk in 2000, modelling for designer Maria Grachvogel.
25 years of London Fashion Week
The late, great Isabella Blow was a British fashion fixture who typified London's eccentric style and championed the city's young talent. Here she attends the O2 Mobile Model Search during LFW in 2005, and sports one of her signature headpieces.
25 years of London Fashion Week
Vivienne Westwood is the closest thing to fashion royalty. The dame continues to push boundaries decades after emerging onto the London fashion scene. Here, in 1993, she poses with supermodel Naomi Campbell, who's wearing the infamous pair of Westwood boots that caused the catwalk tumble heard round the world.
25 years of London Fashion Week
Gareth Pugh is part of fashion's new establishment. His clothes are outrageous and his catwalk shows are always spectacular - this model from his s/s 2007 show sports a mask and exaggeratedly big puffer jacket.
25 years of London Fashion Week
Luella Bartley is a former Vogue editor turned fashion designer. Her clothes are fun and flirty and just that little bit subversive, but they're always wonderfully British. We love this dress from her s/s 2006 show.
25 years of London Fashion Week
Agyness Deyn has been the model-of-the-moment for several seasons. Her quirky look, Mancunian accent and great personal style have made her an ambassador for London fashion. Here she walks the PPQ s/s 2008 catwalk.