Sunday started well with every girl’s favourite high street store Topshop giving us their Unique view of the great outdoors. Heavy sheepskin, chunky knits and tweeds were given a rock chick edge by teaming them with spray on leather leggings. Bleached denim prairie girls in cute smocks and below-the-knee skirts (yes, I'm afraid this length looks like a strong trend next season), kept things sweet and there were enough wispy chiffon and lace dresses to fill 100 dressing up boxes. If you're festival bound this summer, Topshop has all the ponchos a girl needs including a super-long blanket-style one and a tie-dye print rip stop nylon beauty.
PPQ gave us ‘Sloane Ravers', packing the catwalk with every conceivable version of an ’80s mini ball dress imaginable. Peaches and Pixie Geldof who were busy entertaining some beehived goths in the front row will no doubt have gone home with a long shopping list for daddy, full of the kind of dresses that wouldn't have looked out of place on their trend-setting mother back in the day. As Puffball followed ra-ra down the runway, topped off with giant tiaras and glittering crystals, the only clue that we hadn't slipped through a wormhole and gone back 20 years in time was the occasional use of tie-dye silk to keep it modern.
Emma Cook is always a hot ticket at London Fashion Week and she didn't disappoint with a show full to the brim with looks that we girls will all be dreaming of come autumn. Her tie-dye print PVC leggings were amazing and toughened up an often more whimsical top half which took us from pretty pleated tie-dye smocks to lacy chiffons. There was a black bobble-knitted cape which conjured up a voodoo goddess and then Emma had a Dolly Parton moment blending cowgirl detailing with patches of lace and a sprinkle of sparkles. For us the highlights were the spider’s web lace and tie-dye jersey mix dresses and the gorgeous chiffon and lace dresses with wired hems featuring Emma's trademark stars.
Sinha-Stanic gave us a thoroughly modern take on ’50s Americana featuring some of the coolest cropped biker jackets we've seen in a long time. There was sheepskin again, this time teamed with houndstooth on rockabilly coats, and finished off with daring drainpipes. At times this collection was a master class in sculptural tailoring with elegant shift dresses and skirts that tucked and draped around the body without ever looking bulky. Personally we love, love, loved the punky loose knit Swarovski crystal yarn jumper dresses in all the colours of the rainbow. Jem Stylers at the ready!
Surprise new entry into the ‘London Fashion Week Fabulous' list are design duo Felder Felder. Showing off the main schedule, (which means you never quite know what to expect), a stylish surprise was had by all. Their bevy of bed-haired, smoky-eyed, goth-punk girls raged down the catwalk giving us a gob-full of grunge chic at it's most refined. Slouchy knit beanie hats topped off everything from long hip skimming skirts to an ex-boyfriend’s oversized black jumper. Then suddenly the grunge princess grew up and we were treated to the most gorgeous hot violet one shouldered dress, down to the floor with layers of floaty ruffles. There was more violet, leather and chiffon, a busby hat, a black leather biker jacket covered with gold hoops, suede and patent patch work and… OK I need to stop now. You get the picture - we want it all!
