London Fashion Week (LFW) has ever been a hotbed of creativity, where fashion designers test the limits of style, creativity, and cultural salience. The past 10 years have not been different either, as the event has presented us with some unmissable moments—ranging from groundbreaking collections to politics and jaw-dropping runway displays. Here, we take a look at some of the most iconic moments of London Fashion Week in the last decade.
1. Burberry’s Return to London (2018)
Having not been in Milan for some years, Burberry made a successful return to London Fashion Week under the reins of Riccardo Tisci. His first collection, Kingdom, was an empowering blend of heritage and futurism in tribute to the diversity of Britain. The collection was also deserving of praise when it came to diversity of models of different backgrounds, ages, and sizes—reflecting on a more progressive fashion world. To commemorate the day, the company unveiled a new redesign of its monogram, which caught immediate fever on social media. It was such a visually impactful moment that people used a gif creator to capture the highlight points, from the fashion-forward trench coats to the racy streetwear accents.
2. Vivienne Westwood’s Protest Runway (2019)
Late Dame Vivienne Westwood was acquainted with using fashion as activism, and her show in 2019 at LFW was not an exception. The models strided down the catwalk spouting spoken-word poetry and threat warnings of climatic change to render it the most politicized of recent seasons. Westwood herself emerged, dressed in a regal attire, summoning the people to take action on climate injustice. The show was not just fashion—it was a call to the masses, remembering the fashion world that sustainability is no longer an option.
3. Jaws Dropped at Richard Quinn’s Queen-Endorsed Show (2018)
Few places in LFW history will be able to compare with the sheer surprise of the time Queen Elizabeth II attended Richard Quinn’s show way back in 2018. Sitting front row besides Anna Wintour, the Queen presented Richard Quinn with the first-ever Queen Elizabeth II Award for British Design. His creations featured bold floral patterns, extravagant headscarves, and full figures—a revolutionary style that gained royal approval. The Queen’s impromptu visit turned what was already a highly anticipated show into a moment in fashion history that will be remembered forever.
4. The Age of Digital Fashion Takes Off (2020-2021)
The pandemic forced LFW to change, and what came out was a revolutionary shift towards digital fashion shows. In 2020 and 2021, designers such as Matty Bovan, Erdem, and Burberry utilized technology, using virtual catwalks, CGI models, and short films to showcase their collections. For fashion enthusiasts around the globe, this era of digital fashion was all about discovering new ways of engaging with content. From using a gif maker to recycle bold imagery to engaging with interactive online experiences, the industry proved that creativity can thrive even in difficult times.
5. Harris Reed’s Gender-Fluid Revolution (2021)
Harris Reed emerged as one of London’s most exciting designers, renowned for their show-stopping, gender-nonconforming designs. Their 2021 show was an exquisite blend of historical reference and contemporary declarations, with supersized hats, luxurious ruffles, and a dominant emphasis on non-binary fashion. Reed’s work has been embraced by celebrities such as Harry Styles, but it was their LFW debut that solidified their place as a force to be reckoned with in the industry. Their show was a celebration of self-expression, proving that fashion can be both political and deeply personal.
6. Coperni’s Spray-On Dress Stuns the Fashion World (2022)
Though Coperni is a Paris brand, its spray-on dress moment during LFW 2022 viral coverage cannot be undermined. Its innovative use of technology, where liquid polymer was sprayed over the body of Bella Hadid to design an on-the-spot dress, grabbed the international limelight. This was a moment that blurred the lines of science, art, and fashion, proving that the industry is never static. The sheer spectacle of it all was so engrossing that fans continued to use a gif maker to capture and share the stunning transformation.
7. Charles Jeffrey Loverboy’s Theatrical Chaos (2023)
If anyone can turn a catwalk into a proper performance, it’s Charles Jeffrey. His 2023 LFW show was a riot of colour, punk attitude, and utter madness. Models strode down the catwalk in outrageous silhouettes, dramatic makeup, and riotous styling, so it was more like a piece of performance art than a traditional catwalk. Jeffrey’s ability to merge art, music, and fashion in an experiential spectacle has made his shows ones that cannot be avoided during LFW. The 2023 show, in particular, was a fierce yet beautiful ode to self-expression.
8. JW Anderson’s Pigeon Clutch Takes Flight (2022)
It was JW Anderson that transformed a pigeon into the most talked-about accessory of the season. In 2022, the designer introduced a hyper-realistic pigeon clutch bag, which went viral overnight. Stars, celebrities, and fashionistas alike embraced the silly accessory, proving that high fashion and humor can blend. Anderson’s LFW shows always have a touch of playfulness, but this one managed to make a surprising statement about hte clash between pop culture and fashion.
London Fashion Week has continued to deliver some of the most compelling and provocative moments in the industry. Whether it is activism, technological innovation, or raw spectacle, the past decade has revealed the boundless creativity of British fashion. As we look to the future, one thing is certain—London will continue to be a global capital for daring and unforgettable style. And with the globe at our fingertips online making it possible for fans to relive those moments in a split second using a gif creator, the power of LFW will only continue to grow.