London fashion week has just come to a close and call me patriotic but its usually my favourite, followed a very close second by Paris. I normally find the Autumn/Winter shows a bit, well, dull. Give me spring/summer with its colour and prettiness and generally the aesthetic that lies close to my heart any day. It seems though this Autumn/Winter may be the exception with print and colour galore.
So here are my 10 looks that i loved from London fashion week.
10 - Burberry. I always love what Christopher Bailey does at burberry especially how he manages to spin so many ideas and designs from the classic trench. This collection was pretty coat/jacket-centric but there were some beauties in there. This was my favourite - I love the over exagerrated sleeves and tulip shape of the coat itself, all it needs is a vintage vespa to accesorise.
9 - Basso and Brooke. I have loved this label since they won the fashion fringe competition a few years ago with a collection full of the most amazing digital prints. This collection was no exception and with the shapes of the garments simplified the prints really stood out. The colour palette in this dress has such a range but works perfectly. Im also rather fond of them as Mr Brooke follows me on twitter.
8 - David Koma. I hadnt been a fan of David Koma before I saw this collection. I was one of the many people who sniggered away when Cheryl Cole wore the bin lid (as i think it was dubbed) dress on the xfactor. However, I loved this collection. You cant beat a polka dot and I think the way he used the different textures and flashes of colour in his use of them was really clever. My love for pompoms at the moment and his use of lovely furry ones probably helped my love for this collection as well.
7 - Holly Fulton. There were several looks from Holly's collection that I was torn between choosing as my favourite. This one won out in the end for its beautiful print and if I ever had a fancy ball to go to it would be my top choice. I am maybe a bit biased about Holly Fulton as she was my fashion tutor a long time ago when I was in first year at college and she was doing her post grad but I have loved all her collections. I love her art deco inspired prints and the woman she imagines when she designs - this season coco chanel on a trip to scotland to visit her lover.
6 - Kinder Aggugini - I have to say I'm not overly familiar with this label at all, i think this may have been the first time I have seen one of his collections. All the pieces in it were beautiful and this swing coat with cutouts was the one that stood out to me. I think it is the simplicity of the cut added with the hint of seeing what is underneath that works beautifully.
5 - Erdem. Erdem is undoubtedly one of my favourite designers, his use of print, lace, colour and embroidery so beautifully is what I aspire to. This collection had a much more grown up feel to it and I didnt love it as instantly as I normally do (his spring/summer collection made me want to go and take out a huge loan and buy it all straight away) but I loved this dress the cut, colour and print.
4 - Jonathon Saunders. I loved this collection. I think Jonathon Saunders has such an amazing way with print and colourand this collection seemed to bring it all together in the most beautiful way. Im a big fan of odd colour combinations and this outfit really stood out to me with the orange and blue mix. I also think he had my favourite shoes of fashion week.
3 - Temperley London. Alice Temperley is always one of those designers that I know I will love pretty much whatever she does. This dress is just one of the prettiest I saw in all of fashion week. It gives me thoughts of winter wonderlands and fairytales, i think it is the most perfect winter dress.
2 - Louise Gray. My patriotism continues with a 3rd scottish designer. I've always found Louise Grays collections a bit bonkers, but bonkers in a good way. This collection had an immense amount of colour, print and texture going on and this coat was probably one of the simplest outfits. I want it. Its mohair, its got a big collar, its got big gold spots what is not to want.
1 - Mary Katrantzou. This was my ultimate favourite collection of the whole of London fashion week. Following on from her last collection of lampshade skirts and vista scenes printed on dresses this collection was a more wearable follow on. Her use of prints is amazing, there is so much going on but none of it jars to the eye. I never thought I would ever want to wear dress that looked like a vase but thanks to Mary Katrantzou I now do.
All images www.style.com
