Every season when fashion month comes about, amidst the chaos of shows and events, parties give fashion lovers a chance to enjoy good music and unwind. Last week, on Friday September 15, we partnered with Vans to do just that. To celebrate the launch of our Autumn 2023 issue, we threw the ultimate fashion week party with a special appearance from our very own issue cover star, Little Simz.

Here’s what went down throughout the day and night.

THE NIGHT STARTED WITH A MAGAZINE SIGNING 

On Friday evening, we took over the Vans flagship store on Oxford Street to host an exclusive magazine signing with Little Simz. With queues wrapping around the street, over 300 fans showed up for their chance to meet the musician. Over two hours, Little Simz mingled with lucky attendees who left with one-of-a-kind limited copies of the Autumn 23 issue, personally signed by Simz herself.

Take a look at the gallery below for more images from the signing. 

THE CELEBRATIONS CONTINUED IN AN OLD BASEMENT CHAPEL IN SOHO

The celebrations did not just end at the signing. After the Vans store event, Dazed and Vans threw the ultimate after-party. Hosted at Below Stone Nest on Shaftesbury Avenue in Soho, a venue hidden in the basement of a Grade II chapel, the party kick-started London Fashion Week. A free bar kept all the guests dancing throughout the night.

LONDON’S BEST DJS KEPT THE PARTY GOING

A party is only as good as its DJs and we were lucky enough to have some of London’s best DJs spinning songs for us. The setlist included the likes of Hasani and Drybabe, who were also joined by multi-hyphenate Kemarr. London-based producer and DJ Jordss closed the night with a set blending everyone's favourite songs with electronic, London old-school garage, soul and dancehall music. 

THE GUEST LIST INCLUDED SOME OF THE CITY’S MOST EXCITING CREATIVE TALENT

With an eclectic mix of established and up-and-coming talent, the guest list included a range of creatives across music, film, art and fashion. Singer Mahalia was joined by fellow musicians Cat Burns, Femi Koleoso (Ezra Collective), John Glacier, Biig Piig, Grace Carter, Miraa May, Ezra Collective, Nia Archives and Tendai. Among the creative crowd were the likes of Craig Green, Kadeem Ramsay, A Sai Ta, Michaela Stark, Miss Jason, James Massiah and Dazed 100er Darkwah. Models Aweng Chuol, Bibi Abdulkadir, Georgia Moot, Kukua Williams, Julia Campbell Gillies and Sienna King were also in attendance.