London offered lots of skirt ideas starting with this cozy origami knit set from Antonio Berardi. Why oh why is it so hard to find such flattering tailored knits in real life? Love the wintery off white and grey too…
A palette mirrored in this equally cuddly Aquascutum look. I’d do just about anything to have this sweater to curl up into with hot tea and Masterpiece Theater next winter (or this winter, for that matter since it’s never ending). I’d make the most fashionable old lady shut in if I could just get my hands on it.
I could easy walk out of the house in this House of Holland ensemble. Right down to the striped socks and animal print shoes. Of course, I can’t because I don’t have a suit in this incredible shade of purple pink, a shade expertly matched to yellow. (If you’re in a state about what to wear, the purple yellow pairing is almost a guaranteed win.) I can however steal the styling ideas – I already often pair a suit with a casual tee but love the idea of adding a peek a boo slip.
Chanel by way of Peru is the best way to describe this absolutely fabulous suit. I am in love.
Jackets also took center stage. Starting with Burberry Prorsum which featured little else. I loved the line and found it tough to pick a favorite. The saturated, pillowy brights were fun, the plaids were bold and the classics were re-imagined beautifully – but this burnt orange fitted trench with fur shoulders and pop belt was one of the best and a good representation of the whole show. I’ve always wanted a Burberry trench but actually ended up with better in a vintage German number my mom found on ebay. The lesson being, I guess, that if you’re looking for a key vintage piece, don’t only search by label names.
I liked the bull print from Anastase. It reminded me of high school mythology text books, but it was this mid calf length coat I kept thinking about – wishing I had something similarly prim and romantic to welcome fall.
I loved most everything from the African inspired Sass & Bide show. This bold, graphic wrap shawl jacket thing was one of the stand out looks though.
Am I the only one that thought of the grotesque Casey of Casey and his brother when faced with the unnerving makeup at Vivienne Westwood? And, honestly, I don’t care if it’s her or Galliano, anytime old fashioned hobo Halloween costumes are the defining influence on a collection, it’s just not going to be my favorite. Still, this high necked trench (with possibly beads at the wrists? or are those bangles?) is simply perfect.
London is always good for wearable quirk. Jonathan Saunders, who’s previous collection directly inspired the design of this site, is always one I look forward to seeing. His use of color and pattern is always off kilter and ingenious. This ensemble is a great example. This mixing of color is something always fun to do with your own closet. Sometimes I’m surprised by how neat things look together that you wouldn’t initially think to combine.
I am really hoping these are pants. The lip print would be fun in almost anything but best as wide palazzo pants.
I love looks that confuse while still remaining chic. It’s a sartorial skill that is hard to pull off and even harder to explain. Luckily this Pilotto outfit illustrates the phenomenon well. Are those boots? Pants? It all melds together smartly but taken apart piece by piece is rather odd.
I love this Erdem print!! I kind of hope the chains offer some nice knock offs. I’ve always wanted a dress with that criss cross front too.
There was also lots of less wearable quirk. I particularly liked these long layered fringe looks from the Central St Martens show. I feel terrible not giving credit to the student designer who managed to make something so all at once strange and cool but I’ve yet to find coverage that includes this info.
Katrantzou, though she had a few collections under her belt, really broke out last season with her interior design prints. This season, intricate Ming dynasty decoration, layered in vivid color was the theme. I particularly love this look with the bell shaped skirt.
The gilded gothy evening wear from Julien MacDonald was some of my favorite of the season. If the Ann Rice novels were ever remade decently (trust me they haven’t been so far – I just laughed my way through the first fifteen minutes of Interview) these could be perfect dressing for a gorgeous vampire. I wonder (probably in vain) if I can find anything vintage that is similarly embroidered on ebay…
And we have another unnamed Central St Martens collection of glamorous madness. I’d love to see this up close. It looks so detailed in textures and embellishments.
This row consists of pieces or details I couldn’t get out of my head, like the long belted pleated skirt from J.W. Anderson. With this I could reinvent my entire wardrobe. I must find something similar but I don’t expect it to be easy.
I really don’t care for Sienna Miller and I didn’t want to like anything from her Twenty8Twelve line – but – I have to admit this is a good look. The sequined button down is perfect with dark jeans, a knit cap and a blazer.
To be honest I don’t really care for this Ilincic outfit, but the hat, those dark lips and that wavy chestnut hair is gorgeous. If I can ever get my hair to look this good I am copying the look and even if not, I can manage the hat and lipstick.
And finally this sort of slutty little number which is my guilty pleasure pick of the week. It reminds of this awesome older girl in Junior High named Seven Lueder Powers who would wear strapless leather mini dresses to dances to the shock of everyone.
After the jump are more favorite looks. You’ll see more fringe, lots of black and white, and that Pantone wasn’t wrong about Mimosa they were just a couple years ahead of the curve.
Click here for the rest of Best of London Fashion Week
directed by Akira Kurosawa (1961)
Masterpiece Classic
Small Spaces, Big Dreams
by Bloodstone (1973)
Rebel Heartthrob
On The Science Channel
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Written by Mike
