Tom Ford, Rihanna lead London Fashion Week lineup

Fashionistas don't do excitement - they're too cool for that. But even the frostiest fashion editor might be allowed a little smile of anticipation at the lineup for this year's London Fashion Week.

A debut design showcase by singer Rihanna and designer Tom Ford's first proper catwalk show in London are headlining the five-day style extravaganza that begins Friday.

Their star power is piling an extra dose of buzz and glamour onto a growing biannual event that already features industry leaders including Burberry, Vivienne Westwood and others.

Securing a major designer like Ford is a big coup for London Fashion Week, but it's the slew of hot young talent based in the capital that keeps the international fashion pack coming back for more.

This season Kane and Katrantzou will have to share the buzz with Rihanna, who is making her first foray into designing with a collection for British high street chain River Island. The British Fashion Council is calling it the "most anticipated collaboration of 2013."

"This has been something I wanted to do ever since I started loving fashion," the singer said in a video posted on British Vogue's website. "Every time I saw something on a rack there was something I wanted to do to change it, and so I thought that the only way I could do that is by designing the perfect thing for me."

Ford, who has dressed everyone from Michelle Obama to James Bond star Daniel Craig, will also be showing his first official catwalk collection in London on Sunday. The former design chief at Gucci and Yves Saint Laurent had previously only staged exclusive presentations here. London Fashion Week will be followed by designer shows in Milan and Paris.