Jasper Conran
On a rather bleak Saturday morning, the home of Jasper Conran‘s show (above left) was London’s stunning Saatchi Gallery, with a rather unexpected appearance in the front row from actor Richard E. Grant. Conran, whose signatures are timeless, contemporary British style, aimed to create a wearable collection for powerful women with a lot of sexiness, and he did just that! Pencil skirts, boxy jackets, tailored coats and sexy dresses reigned supreme as the colour palette swung between classic nudes and pastels in contrast to vibrant reddish oranges. It’s a collection that combines the right amount of practical and sexy with the addition of some great standout party dresses.
Orla Kiely
Set in a dark (and a tad spooky) old Central Saint Martins building, guests climbed into Orla Kiely‘s show (above right) via a panel on its once fully functional door into a world where it was raining cats and dogs. Combining inspirations from the musical The Umbrellas of Cherbourg along with 60s singers Petula Clark, Cilla Black and Sandie Shaw, the collection mixed whimsical feline and canine prints with raindrop-inspired florals. Kitsch rain macs and cute Peter Pan collar dresses were the ordre du jour, as the mostly monochrome collection was brightened up by the odd pops of lemon, mandarin and sky blue.
Toga
Over at London’s Wapping Project, LFW newbie Toga (above left) stayed true to its trademark with a collection boasting conflicting materials and sportswear elements. Layering was key as mesh drapes gave depth to several outfits, while pleated skirts were wrapped around others. Flat shoes were key as the collection championed what seemed to be a hair-like tassel as the ultimate accessory for your belt.
Zoë Jordan
Over at London’s Rook & Raven, Zoë Jordan’s collection (above right) oozed boy racer appeal with silhouettes, graphics and the even more obviously themed jumpsuits. The colour palette was also no exception to the high-speed theme by combining petrol blues, whites and steels. Championing a woman who is both the boy’s best friend and the girl’s confidante, this collection continued to evolve Jordan’s signature boyish elegance. The racing theme may not be to everybody’s tastes, but the addition of her signature tailored pieces in the form of boyfriend overcoats and sharp blazers were definitely crowd-pleasers.
Images: IMAXtree
