TEXT REBECCA CAPEWELL

Its
that
matters,
Itsnot
notwhat
whatyou
youlook
lookatat
that
matters,
its
itswhat
whatyou
yousee
see.

Is it really true that a building that once housed royalty, military, and the government could now be a hive
of all things creative?

As summer approaches we thought now would be a good time

to tell you all about the things that happen in and around this
captivating building that sits between the Strand and the River
Thames.
The beautiful architecture of the building and the spacious area
of the courtyard has many uses. During the winter months it
houses an outdoor ice rink, which you can see at the beginning
of the famous film Love Actually. It is also used for a range of
events including fashion shows, film premieres, art and design
exhibitions and open-air concerts.
But if celebrity spotting is more your style, then you can see the
likes of Jude Law, Robert Downey Jr, Keira Knightly, Rachel
McAdams, Gerard Butler and Cold Play. All of these have either
filmed here, played concerts or been to premieres.
Fashion Week. Its something that happens every year all over
the world. London Fashion Week also plays a huge part in the
UK economy as orders of approximately 100m are made
every year. Yet for us mere mortals its impossible to sneak into
(believe me weve tried). This is unless you make your way over
to Somerset House. Though met with some resistance a few have
managed to blag their way into some pretty great shows and
rub shoulders with the rich and famous.
When we first arrived the courtyard was packed. Full of
bloggers, celebrities, paps, fashion enthusiasts and the slightly
overwhelmed students. Somerset house was, not for the first
time, host to an array of vibrant characters. People were dressed
in every way imaginable from dolls heads stuck on bags to the
slightly more tastefully styled Lily Cole.
After picking our jaws off the floor we started to photograph
some of the people there and instantly fell in love with the
quirkiness of the event and the buzz that was evident in the air.
Within the stone walls of Somerset House celebrities were lining
up to walk for a different kind of show. The always controversial
and stunningly beautiful Naomi Campbell was the host of the
event, Fashion For Relief, raising money for Ebola. The event
had pieces donated by fashion houses including Alexander
McQueen, Balmain, Givenchy, Stella McCartney, and Versace.
These clothes were then auctioned off after the event. The event
was attended by everyone from Jourdan Dunn and Georgia
May Jagger to TV personalities and designers including Ade
Adepitan and Vivienne Westwood. With the soundtrack of the
evening being none other than Brit nominated Ella Eyre.
The fashion events held at Somerset House have a great
impact on what you are wearing today, even if you dont wear
designer labels. In the past it could take anything from 6 months

to a year before any of the trends you saw on the runway would
filter down to the High Street. Now it only takes three weeks as
consumers have got more demanding. This is important because
as Jasper Conran said to BBC News If its a good idea, why
wouldnt you make 2,000 of them. Designers at Somerset
House aim to be pioneering in leading ideas and trends that
will inspire thousands of designs.
On Monday, however, it was announced that Somerset House
is no longer going to be the center of fashion week. This is due
to several reasons, the main one being the amount of twisted
ankles from the rocky relationship between cobbled courtyard
and 6-inch heels. The move is one that has surprised many. It
will be interesting to see if the move to a car park can compete
with the iconic landmarks at other fashion weeks around the
world. The car park in question is located in Soho. A stones
throw away from the hussel and bussel of Trafalgar square and
the National Gallery. The space has already been dubbed the
Fashion Park. This move might be exactly what is needed
though. The art deco aesthetic of the building and youthful
energy of the area might bring something different to the shows.
This wont draw people away from Somerset house for the rest
of the year though, as many will still visit the courtyard for a
different reason. During the winter there is an ice rink which is
replaced by with fountains during the summer months. This area
is usually busy bustling with people. Unlike inside the building
the courtyard is mainly filled with children running in and out of
the fountains. However if you dont fancy doing that, its a pretty
good spot for a coffee and an Instagram pic.
During the summer films are shown in an outdoor cinema for 14
nights. This is if the rain holds off. The stone cave is the perfect
spot to watch the life size films. These films range from wellloved classics such as Roman Holiday to new releases and
red carpet premieres. This is an experience not to be missed and
definitely something I plan on doing this summer. Who wouldnt
want to watch an Audrey Hepburn classic under the stars? A
special guest introduces each film, with a DJ playing music
during the early evening before the film begins. There is also a
chance for you to brush up on your acting skills with workshops
from special guests, giving you a glimpse of the glamour and
the glitz that is the acting world.
Here at ID we love finding the next big thing and sharing it with
the world. This is something we have in common with Somerset
house. Each year, for a month they display work created by 1416 year olds. This work will have been carried out at a Saturday
arts and design club in their local area. This type of work is vital
in allowing young people to try new things and start to get
noticed in their chosen area.

These events are a far cry from the buildings past uses. However this may be the very reason that Somerset house has as much success as it does in the colourful world of art and design. Due to its varied royal and political
past its not afraid to push the boundaries in modern art and try new things that other exhibition spaces wouldnt dream of doing. The beautiful architecture and the variety of uses of the building mean that almost every time
you go, there is something new to look at and learn about. But in answer to the question at the beginning Somerset house may have come a long way from its political past. But the move of Fashion week shows that no matter
how innovative and creative they are now, they are never going to be able to shake of the humdrum life of its past uses.