Christopher Kane, Erdem and Burberry at LFW

Christopher Kane
It was a real sense of Granny chic at Christopher Kane, just look at those headscarves! There were a lot of florals in artistic, abstract prints on dresses, vertical stripes on maxi dresses, beige hues and of course, classic black. What is ground breaking about Kane is that every season he delivers a completely different look, yet it is still recognizable as Christopher Kane. I loved this collection, especially that khaki long coat.

Burberry
From September this year, Burberry will only show their catwalk collections when the clothes hit stores, a big shake up to the system. They are such a huge draw at LFW and I can't imagine Burberry not appearing on the schedule. Yet this show by Christopher Bailey was rich, modern and cool with its check coats, blingy mini dresses and opulent colours, such as green, yellow and purple. Metallic shift dresses were simple but printed with glowing snakeskin, parka coats were given a fresh update with large fur lapels, patterned black tights were paired with chunky biker boots and that amazing shaggy green coat looked incredible cinched in at the waist.

The aviator jacket, which was a key piece in New York, was adapted by Bailey with a new over-sized look, a little different from 2010 when he last featured the classic jacket in his Burberry collection. Burberry would not be Burberry without at least one trench coat, but this season it was very difficult to spot just one! They were there, but in very loose, straight cut styles which looked and felt more like a smart winter coat rather than a classic trench. Nevertheless, this collection will feature in all the fashion magazines next season, as part of the best picks of LFW. We expect nothing less from Burberry.

Erdem
So beautiful and refined, this Erdem collection was grown up elegance at its best. Black lace, floral prints, Victorian bows, and large collars all added to the very English feel, while the lovely dresses at the end of the collection were delicate and feminine. All the shapes were very womanly and quite long, which looked amazing on the models, while hair was clipped back with tiny little clips. A really great show, which I thoroughly enjoyed. 

Peter Pilotto
Usually Peter Pilotto go all out for prints, in a simalr way that mary Katrantzou does. Yet for fall 2016, prints were toned down and rather simplistic in soft pastel colours or on graphic black. Instead they focused on prim, proper suits, cute tea dresses and pure elegance.

Roksanda Illinic
So much colour, so many sumptuous jewel tones and lots of lovely fur (not sure if its real or faux.) This Roksanda collection was frilly with plenty of abundant ruffles, delicate with sweeping midi skirts and structured with form fitting coats. Everything was splashed with colour in some way or another, and there were the classic geometric Roksanda prints that we have come to love thrown in too.

Antonio Berardi
I chose to feature Antonio Berradi because this collection was just so sophisticated and elegant. The monochrome use of black and white added glamour as did the timeless jumpsuits, classic trench coats in white and black leather as well as the lace detailing. Models looked smart with slicked back hair and a pop of red lipstick while the ankle boots seemed to match every outfit perfectly.

LFW: Burberry, Erdem, Christopher Kane and more...

Burberry
Sienna Miller, Cara Delevingne, Kate Moss, Benedict Cumberbatch and Suki Waterhouse were just some of the big names who sat front row at the Burberry Spring/Summer 2016 show. With a 20 strong orchestra at the brands normal Kensington Gardens venue, this Burberry collection was simple and stylish. There were no bright pastel colours or broderie-anglaise as seen at previous seasons, but more easy black jackets and white summer dresses with pretty sleeves and minimal detailing. Of course, there was some classic trench coats which came with a hard edge with military styled buttons and rucksacks models wore on their backs. But overall, Christopher Bailey presented a collection which was extremely wearable and chic. Sandals and ankle cage heels were also a nice touch for summer and added to the more relaxed aesthetic of this Burberry girl.

Models looked natural with minimal make-up adding to the no fuss attitude of this collection. There were floral mini dresses, perfect for the day and a couple of dramatic black capes for a cold, spring evening. I loved the lemon coloured mini dress covered in frills worn by Binx Wilson as well as the sheer fabrics which were draped over body suits and on dresses and vest tops. Shapes were slouchy but nipped in at the waist to highlight the figures of the models, while funky leather jackets and stylish over-sized coats will serve as the perfect cover up come next year.

Personally, it wasn't as good as last year or the amazing spring 2014 collection which I still lust over, but nevertheless it was a good show for Burberry and lived up to the hype created on social media. This brand is such an iconic label for British fashion, and it's clear from the reception its received that this show will be one of highlights of London Fashion Week so far.

Christopher Kane
So much colour, so much excitment, so many ra-ra skirts... Christopher Kane collection was so enjoyable to watch and so fun too! Splashes of colours - pink, yellow, blue and black were splattered across a-symmetric dresses, loose jersey tops and cropped bomber jackets in what looked like an explosion in a paint factory. There were pieces reminiscent of his past season, where naked men and women in geometric shapes were adorned onto slip dresses but this time it was more Elmer the elephant-esque. I loved all the tassels on the skirts and jumpers while the shoes were amazing too. I didn't expect this from Kane and it was a nice surprise!

  
Alice Temperley
Usually I don't tend to pay much attention to Temperley, even though I know that it's a moved loved British brand. But this collection was so beautiful and intricately astounding that I couldn't ignore it and it is so far one of my surprise highlights of LFW. Inspired by the culturally enriching city of Havana, Alice Temperley focused on lace day dresses, panama hats, soft pastel colours and a lot of beautiful embroidery. Every dress had a different design and feel to it, covered in flowers, zig-zags, Aztec patterns and ruffles. The floor length sequined dress at the end of the show was gorgeous and the amazing knee high gladiator sandals are now high on my summer wish list. In fact if I could I would snap up this whole collection because I could literally see myself in every piece. Fantastic!

Erdem
The overall atmosphere of this collection was darkly mysterious and intriguing as well as beautiful and classic Erdem. There were plenty of digital inspired prints on tight dresses which bared the shoulders and focused on a more streamlined silhouette. The dresses moved beautifully, especially those covered in layers of feathers and chiffon while the floral designs were summery and sleek. Neckties were another key theme of this show, something we've seen previously at New York Fashion Week while the laid back glam of Erdem was a hit once again.

Mary Katrantzou
So much print - it's no wonder they call her the queen of prints! Mary Katrantzou was inspired by the stars and the solar system for her latest collection, which was light and wearable as well as detailed and full of colour. Mini dresses had a loose and fluid shape to them which were paired with sparkly tights while the graphic lines of this collection were also a standout feature.

Issa
I don't know an awful lot about Issa, but judging by this collection, its a label which celebrates the more beautiful things in life. Wrap dresses with geometric patterns looked perfect for the every day working woman while the white transparent dresses and trousers looked so effortlessly glamorous on the models. The pristine white jumpsuit worn by Lily Donaldson was my favourite look while the orange and burgundy lace up booties were a covetable item for the spring. I really enjoyed the simplicity and beauty of this show and am now a self proclaimed Issa fan.

London Fashion Week: Best in Show

Burberry
This show was something quite different from Burberry. Yes, there were a couple of their classic trench coats and few compy capes (a huge hit last season) but the prints were incredibly bright and fun. Every garment was adorned with 70's inspired boho patterns, in azul blue, dusty red and camel. There were plenty of tassels and pieces which will be copied everywhere next season such as the buttoned bomber jackets, and even a leopard print coat thrown in for good measure. As always, Burberry attracts a lot of international clients and a scurry of excitement from the fashion press. Yet for me, this show was not as good as previous seasons. 

Holly Fulton
London designer Holly Fulton seems to stay below the radar at fashion week yet she has been showing at LFW for a number of years now. I picked out her show as one of my highlights of  LFW simply because it was pretty and delicate, and I could see my self wearing these clothes! The colours were pastel and soft while the draping of the fabric was flattering and elegant, perfect for dressing up for evening. It reminded me of a very English tea party at The Dorchester, complete with ice pink cupcakes and sweet jam scones!

Preen by Thornton Bregazzi
Preen always experiment with colour; a lot of colour. For autumn/winter 2016 patchwork patterns and intricate swirling patterns were adorned on loose dressed and long sleeved crop tops. I loved the 70's feel (a big thing for next season apparently) and the understated cool the model's possessed. I also loved the hair and make up which was youthful and chic.

Christopher Kane
It was those unique printed dresses at the end of the show which did it for me. Sketched by Christopher Kane himself, dresses featured naked men and women entwined together in a Pop Arty display of affection. Yes, a little weird and controversial but that's what makes Kane stand out from the pack. The rest of the collection was good, with some very wearable black pieces. 

Joseph
Since making a triumphant comeback to the catwalk scene last year, Joseph certainly put on a great show at a Soho car park for their fall 2016 collection. Similar to what Celine did last season, knitted jumpers were over sized and baggy while silhouettes were minimal and simple. I loved the column dresses and wrap knits in beige, neutrals and khaki green. On top of that, the pretty summer dresses at the end of the show were lovely and perfect to wear in the autumnal months. Overall, a great collection with an understated Parisian elegance.

Roksanda Illinic

Fuzzy, colourful, fun and loud. Roksanda knows how to bring her designs to life. Everything had colour, whether that be eye popping yellow, bright blue or fuchsia pink - none of these clothes shied away from the camera. The use of fur was tasteful and blogger friendly while the bold pink lipstick really stood out with the clothes. Belts were chunky and tightly cinched in waists while patterns were kept simple yet a little psychedelic. It was a collection which put you in a good mood.

 

 Topshop Unique

With Sir Philip Green sitting proudly beside Cara Delevingne, Kendall Jenner and Kate Moss the Topshop Unique show as a fav of mine at LFW. Topshop are fantastic at styling out an outfit to perfection, pairing pieces together which are cool and fun. I loved the use of fuzzy fur on collars, cuffs and dresses as well as the simple tea dresses and cocktail designs. Very relaxed and chic.

 Tom Ford
Yes, even though Tom Ford showed his collection in Los Angeles and not London, I thought I would still feature it because frankly it was amazing. One thing that Ford does to perfection is sexy. This man knows how to make a woman look seriously good in what proved to be another fab collection. From the aviator looks and the leopard print coats to the black sheer dresses and chunky jewelery, these clothes really do scream jet set glamour. And with Joan Smalls, Gigi Hadid and Karmen Pedaru strutting their stuff down the runway, no doubt these clothes will fly out of the showroom and into wardrobes fast!

London Fashion Week Spring 2014

Tom Ford said today that London is 'one of the few cities where people still dress properly,' and after the fantastic fashion week just passed, its fair to say that I think he's absolutly right! London is a city were creativity is encouraged, style comes in all shapes and forms and where people aren't afraid to dress in a way that suits them (not to keep up with the latest trends). London is brimming with new, talented designers ready to burst onto the fashion scene with a bang and as we have witnessed with Christopher Kane, Mary Katrantzou and most recently, Simone Rocha. Yes, I may be biast as London is my home and in my opinion, the greatest city on earth, but this past fashion week has truly been unforgetable. So, lets take a look back at some of the best shows and trends that emerged at London Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2014...

Who stole the show in London? I would say Burberry. Simples. Burberry is the ultimate 'taste of Britain' brand with its trench coats, historic fashion past and oh so very British ad campaigns, and this season they didn't dissapoint. A more soft, delicate look was presented to us with lace skirts, pastel coats and flowery detaling that looked like it had come straight out of a bakery. Sweet and beautiful, just like Spring. The clothes were gorgeous and I wouldn't be suprised if Mr Christopher Bailey had orders right up to his ears.

Tom Ford, an adopted designer of London, also showcased a very strong collection full of sparkly mini dresses, daring monochrome features and tanned jackets accompanied with tight pencil skirts. Mary Katrantzou did what she does best too. Prints, prints and yes, more prints, all thrown together on one garment but oh they complemented each other so well. Vivienne Westwood gave yet again another collection focused on saving the environment and climate change, hiring Lily Cole who gave a contemporary dance opening the show.

Julien Macdonald and Giles Deacon both brought the drama and show stopping gowns to the catwalk while Meadham Kirchoff gave us, as always, a deeply imaginative show with school girl dresses and bright wigs. Pastels were big at London with Preen, Peter Pilotto, Christopher Kane and Erdem showing a softer pallet of choice with white playing a key part alongside more dramatic colours. Topshop Unique, another favourtite of mine, gave us a very cool show, full of summery dresses, crop tops and denim pieces that made one deeply wish that summer was next month, and not almost a year away (sigh.) Mulberry was another big show this season, as Emma Hill gave her last collection as creative director for the brand. Flowery prints, light jackets and jumpsuits all looked ravishing and Hill will surely be missed.

I could go on forever, but of course fashion doesn't have time to linger and its off to Milan now for the latest Itailian maestros to showcase their talent. Dolce and Gabbana, Gucci, Versace and Fendi are just some of the designers I cannot wait to see, and then it's off to Paris and we know how amazing Paris always is, right? So, lets board our fashion planes and fly across Europe. Ladies and Gentleman, we will be landing in Milan shortly, please secure your seatbelts!

Bow down to Burberry...

This afternoon the world of fashion was indeed treated to a deliciously devine show. As a flurry of celebrities including Sienna Miller, Harry Styles and Paloma Faith took their front row seats at the Burberry show venue at Hyde Park, a sprinkle of fashion fairy dust was sprinkled over the upcoming collection created by the one and only Christopher Bailey. Yes, this was a Burberry show to be remembered and a highlight of London Fashion Week so far.

Pastel pencil skirts, pretty lace tops and creamy coats all graced the catwalk. Ladylike silhouettes and 1940's influences were at the fore front of this collection as Bailey made it clear that next seasons Burberry woman is to be graceful, beautiful and delicate in the spring sunshine of 2014. Every model carried a certain elegance as she swayed down the runway as sunlight poured in through the large windows and onto the radient runway. This was definatly one of the best Burberry shows I have ever seen and I could have happily brought every single piece presented to us, including the monochrome glasses and the tiny envelope clutches. A wonderful show and well worth the wait. Thank you Mr Bailey.