Inside LFW (18th): Castings, Runways, and Exclusive Events

Yesterday felt like an absolute fever dream. I just woke up after a 14-hour nap, completely wiped out from juggling NYFW reporting, starting university, and keeping up with back-to-back castings for London Fashion Week. Don’t get me wrong, I’m ridiculously grateful for this life I lead and and wouldn’t trade it for anything. Now, let me give you an insider’s look at what life is really like for a model during LFW…

I started the day out by waking up at an ungodly hour, racing to get on a train before the inevitable train problems ensued. Got into London fresh-faced at 9am and headed straight to the agency, LFW is literally hell for the agents, it’s a whole two weeks of no sleep and working 24/7 so I usually avoid the office as much as possible, however the casting I was on my way to was a bulk casting - one i’ve never experienced before.

So I needed many comp cards (for those who aren’t aware it’s a card with 2 images of the model, one face and one full body, and all of our measurements - a synopsis of the model basically!) I secured my comp cards - 12 to be exact - and headed to the casting, but not before cheekily asking for one of the fashion week goodie bags! Agencies get so many sponsorships during LFW, so I secured my bag (shown below) of Charlotte Tilbury, Garnier, Kiko, Dash, Candy Kittens and so many more. Really kept me going the whole day.

my goodie bag!!!

Oh and I forgot to mention, as a slightly shorter model myself (5’8) I always wear my trusted Reformation knee - high boots to castings, and this time I didn't even bring any flats to change into. Big mistake. I could feel blisters forming an hour into my journey, it was hell. I arrived at the casting to see a line that was comically long, winding around a skyscraper and looping back around a second time. 

As far as a request casting goes, it seemed like all London models in the country had been requested. Luckily we had a friend in the queue and joined her, we waited in the line for 2 long hours, talking and rooting through my goodie bag of course! We even got taken out of the line for a street interview - they knew my outfit was too good to pass up. 

When we finally got into the building it was unlike any casting I've ever been to before. There were 14 tables spread over the building, 9 downstairs and 5 upstairs and you had to walk in front of the table, give them your card and walk 4 more times. Then depending on if they liked you or not you would have to walk more, take pictures or they would brutally reject you.

The first table I went to set me off to a humbling start. They made me walk 6 times - in front of about 200 other models may I add - and then handed me my card back at the end. Brutal.

Thankfully most of the others went well and I even got told I had a nice walk by one group! I love castings for London Fashion week because the turnaround is so quick, like i’ll know within 3 days if i’ve got anything or not because LFW is over in 3 days. There’s no hanging around for weeks in anticipation like many other modelling options. Thank god.

So after arriving at 9am it was now 2pm, and like typical models me and my friends hadn’t eaten a thing so we ran to get a Pret before going to a second casting. That took another hour, and then they were so jealous of my goodie bag we went back to the agency to get them one as well - and to restock on more comp cards because the 14 at the first casting had wiped my stash out!

So after another replenish of cards we headed back out and I raced to Westfield to get some ballet flats before going to an event in the evening. It was 4pm by this point so I headed back to my apartment in London to chill and recover from such a hectic morning. I literally had to bathe my feet after the torture of 15,000 steps in my heeled boots. Crazy behaviour from me. So I napped and recovered and headed out for the Lacoste x LNCC event I had been invited to that evening. 

LNCC x Lacoste x Frank Dorrey Event: 

As a model occasionally we get invited to events, especially during any fashion weeks and as a fashion student now as well I really love the exposure and chance to network it allows me! So me and my social media assistant headed to the event with some of my model friends, who I had just seen 2 hours prior at the castings! 

We had been promised free Lacoste polos upon the invitation, and received no such thing. Outraged! Joking. The ambiance was cool, the place was packed with models, some of which were from my agency but I had never met, so it was nice to expand my agency circle! I even met an ex-love islander (albeit an irrelevant one).

The DJ was kind of weird but you know what I can get behind it, kind of robotic vibe music. It was not my kind of music but everyone was head-bopping so it seemed to be the vibe. The atmosphere was really chill and everyone was absurdly fashionable and very cool. I had to race to the bathroom to put my boots back on so I didn't feel miniscule next to the towering male models.

While on the way back from the event, we of course got harassed on the streets of London as usual, however when I finally got on a train - because there were of course train issues! I was rooting through my photos from the day and realised I failed to get one of my super cool outfits. What an idiot. But I also saw while scouting instagram that the starting day of LFW had gone down a treat! With really cool events taking place - one of which I'd just been to - and the first runway of LFW, Harris Reed! 

I knew then and there I had to write all about his collection, which I've just done. 

Read all about it here - Harris Reed SS26 - A theatrical opening to London Fashion Week

I also knew I needed to cover some of the goings-on I missed while being such a booked and busy model yesterday! I knew for a fact I had to cover the insanely cool H&M&180 event and catwalk that had taken place. I mean the runway that evening was so star-studded I was shocked! I didn’t know H&M did it like that. 

H&M&180 : The London Issue Event and Catwalk:

Last night (18th), H&M unveiled its Autumn/Winter 2025 collections with an ambitious, genre-blurring showcase at London Fashion Week. Held at 180 The Strand, the event - titled H&M&180: The London Issue - brought together fashion, music, and digital innovation in a three-act runway-meets-concert experience.

With a cast of 70 models - including Alex Consani, Lila Moss, and Romeo Beckham, performances by Lola Young, and appearances from stars like Central Cee, Little Simz, and Emily Ratajkowski, the show celebrated self-expression and style through immersive staging, monumental screens, and an eclectic soundtrack.

See a video of the catwalk here: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DOwyn2MihPC/?igsh=MTZlODd5Y3lnN3gwcA==

During the day, prior to the show H&M hosted panel talks and workshops led by Perfect Magazine, spotlighting creatives such as Susie Lau, David Kappo, and Sølve Sundsbø. The event culminated in a high-energy after-party with DJs Honey Dijon and Pxssy Palace. Blending fashion with culture, community, and cutting-edge presentation, H&M’s show positioned the A/W25 collections as a bold tribute to personal style and London’s creative spirit.

What’s to Come -

As the first whole day of LFW approaches us today with a full timetable from 9am - 9pm. Including shows from Paul Costelloe, Stephen Jones, Dreaming Eli, Mark Fast, and an event dinner from JW Anderson x The British Fashion Council. Today is already full steam ahead and I’m excited to report on it all for you.

With love,

Mimi x