London Fashion Week kicks off today with an impressive 107 brands on the schedule to showcase their designs for the autumn/winter 2024 season. And big congratulations are in order: not only is the event jam-packed with new and well-established talent, but London Fashion Week is now 40 years old. So, Team Stylist took a walk down memory lane to remember the standout moments that have made London Fashion Week such a standout event both in and outside of the industry.

First launched in 1984, when the UK fashion scene looked a lot different than it does today, the initial London Fashion Week featured only a handful of mid-market collections and small exhibitions with young designers at the forefront. These young designers included now-household names such as John Galliano and high street store Ghost and, just as the event does today, London Fashion Week acted as a launchpad for fresh fashion talent to stand in front of buyers and press. Two years later, the shows were so successful that both Princess Diana and Margaret Thatcher were in attendance.

Today, London Fashion Week is seen as one of the big four, joining New York, Milan and Paris, attracting attention from across the globe. So, we sat down to recall some of our favourite moments, with Alexander McQueen, Vivienne Westwood and The Queen taking leading roles.

5 standout moments from London Fashion Week’s 40-year history