Archive for February 21st, 2012

London Fashion Week comes to an end tomorrow, there were some wild and wacky shows as usual and quite frankly some wild and wacky members of the audience (Yes you, Kitty Brucknell, former X-Factor contestant…take a look online). Here are some of highlights from one of the biggest events in the fashion calendar.

Mulberry took their inspiration from the delightful children’s book, Maurice Sendak’s Where The Wild Things Are, with huge Yeti like creatures standing either side of the runway.

The clothes were equally hairy and monster-like. The catwalk was filled with Mongolian fur coats in chocolate brown and black, shaggy gilets and skirts (that we think you may have to blow dry, rather than iron). The hues used were burnt orange, tangerine, caramel and dark browns. An amazing collection (shame about the real fur used) but we all know Mulberry for their luxury bags, and they launched their new Mulberry bag called the Del Rey, named after the American singer Lana Del Rey, the bag was a bit like a 1950’s bowling bag but with that Mulberry classic styling too.

Another designer known for her gorgeous bags is Orla Kiely, her show was based on an ‘afternoon tea dance’. Models and professional dancers were all choreographed as they waltzed around the dance floor, to music played by a live swing band, there was even a glitter ball and cafe. Her collection was pretty and girly, with dresses that looked very vintage 1950’s, in pale ditsy prints and cream and black striped dresses with huge bows, she accessorised her tea dance collection with gold t-bar dance shoes and glittery short socks.

Sarah Burton, the new designer for Alexander McQueen, produced a great collection for the diffusion line McQ. Since designing that very famous wedding dress (for The Duchess of Cambridge) Sarah has carried the McQueen brand on beautifully. A large part of the collection had a military theme with smart stiff tailored coats and jackets clinched in by wide patent belts, some coats patterned with heavy floral embroidery and some without. But Sarah also showcased some huge ball gowns that were absolutely stunning, the upper of some, in all over lace with lace long sleeves and the full skirts adorned with large embroidery, some were made from tulle and some were in deep red velvet. These dresses seem to be inspired by Charles James, who was actually the late Alexander McQueen’s fashion hero. As usual the show was filled with theatre, fun and among all creativity and that’s what London Fashion Week always does best.