GET THE LONDON LOOK
KATIE WRIGHT takes a look at the emerging trends we saw at the recent London Fashion Week
1 VOLUMINOUS TULLE
‘GO big or go home’ was the mantra at Molly Goddard, where tulle (the designer’s calling card) was whipped into circle skirts and babydoll dresses, and Bora Aksu, where pastel ruffles cascaded down Victoriana gowns.
Even Roksanda, who usually favours saturated colour blocking, used the diaphanous fabric to create floaty candy-coloured confections.
2 RAINBOWS
CHRISTOPHER Bailey dedicated his final Burberry collection to the LGBTQ community, reworking the brand’s famous Nova check with rainbow colours and incorporating the motif throughout the show.
Ever a diversity champion, Ashish Gupta used the seven-colour spectrum liberally too.
3 PATCHWORK
RATHER than precise tessellating shapes, the patchwork we saw at Peter Pilotto, Mary Katrantzou and Simone Rocha was irregular and asymmetrical – but that was no bad thing. We predict the floral patchwork midi dress will be one of autumn/winter’s key pieces.
4 EIGHTIES
YES, again. The decade that is fast becoming fashion’s favourite was plundered once more; by Ashley Williams with her punk and polka dots aesthetic, and Molly Goddard with her puff ball dresses.
5 SEVENTIES SUITS
THE Seventies also got a look in this season thanks to the tailoring at Peter Pilotto and Mulberry. Longline jackets with swishy wide leg trousers had a disco decadence about them.
6 YELLOW
WHILE lemon looks set to dominate the fashion landscape this summer, warmer shades of yellow are trending for autumn.
Jasper Conran showed head-to-toe looks in sunflower yellow, JW Anderson paired it with cream and orange, while the often colour-averse Erdem sent out eveningwear in shimmering golden hues.
7 HERITAGE REMIX
LONDON designers often pay homage to our nation’s sartorial history in their collections, and AW18 was no exception – but heritage references came with a twist.
Mary Katrantzou borrowed Victorian interiors textiles for her sculptural designs, traditional checks were given a new lease of life at House of Holland and Erdem, while stately Edwardian shapes ruled at Mulberry.