pictures from www.style.com

At first sight the House of Holland collection ticked all of the boxes for me in terms of bright and happy clothes to cheer up a cold and dark autumn or winter day. I love colour and this collection had  lashings of it, unusually so for an autumn winter collection. But on more careful inspection, the horizontal stripes on every single piece of this collection are probably the most unflattering thing for most of the population. They looked very striking and I did like the jumper, shirt and shift dresses with their graduating colours.

But next time Henry Holland designs a collection, I would like him to remember that he is not just designing for very tall thin models like his pal Aggy.

The thin horizontal stripes and vertical stripes on the hips of this Paul Smith Optics top are a much more flattering option for most women.

In my last post, I mentioned Mark Fast, one of the winners of New Generation sponsorship. For this post I just had to write about the other winner Mary Katrantzou.  Again for a debut a London Fashion week, this was a bold and exciting collection. The prints were  very memorable. Inspired by perfume bottles, they were bright and graphic just what was needed to catch the audiences attention.

But it was not only the prints that caused a stir at London fashion week. She led the way with some innovative silhouettes and interesting shapes from the fluted skirts to ballon sleeved tunics, she seemed to get it right on all levels. The look was so eyecatching yet so wearable. Finally the icing on the cake of her show was the jewellery. Large chain, tubes and mirrors were joined to create oversized pieces of jewellery that just looked amazing and fitted perfectly with the clothes.

If you are a fan of designer perfume bottles, this bottle of Jean Paul Gaultier perfume will look amazing on your dressing table.

pictures from www.style.com

Mark Fast is another name to watch out for next autumn. A graduate from the central St Martins MA programme, he has produced a very interesting knitwear collection. The Central St Martins MA programme seems to be turning out talent after talent at the moment. Mark Fast was also awarded the New Generation Award this year and I think he absolutely deserves. His compact collection which was shown at London Fashion week included dramatic fringed pieces, intersting textures and unusual shapes.

The collection was inspired by powerful natural phenomena including thunderstorms. For a debut collection at London fashion week, this collection made an interesting start. In terms of wearability and commercial viability, I am not sure but then there are plenty of other designers that have done with clothes that could hardly be described as wearable or commercial.

If you like interesting knit wear, you will love this long sleeved jumper by Pinko

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Peter Pilotto was  another eagerley awaited show at London Fashion week this year. There has been much talk and posting on blogs about Peter Piliotto’s amazing prints. This collection was full of them as would be expected. This time to my excitement, there was a double whammy, different prints were mixed in the same outfit.

Creating bright winter prints is simple just take a bright summer print and add a fair amount of black, but Peter Pilotto made it look far from simple with his complex and graphic prints. There were bold colour combinations like black and red, which I some times think can look too harsh, but they managed to keep the look soft and fresh with the clever draping of the dress. Draping is something else that the pair have become famous for. Christopher De Vos is an expert at draping beautiful dresses that seem to fit so well with the prints for a match made in heaven.

 Yet another collection from London Fashion Week that I  just can’t get enough of. Can’t wait to see what is next.

Basso and Brooke are another pair known for their innovative and bold prints. Check out this Basso and Brooke Cocktail print dress

pictures from www.style.com

The show by Erdem Moralioglu  is not  one that I will be forgetting in a hurry. It is possibly one of the most remarkable collections of London Fashion week. I loved the bell shaped, curved empire line dresses, the rich and bright colours and the bold graphic prints. The trouser suit with marbled effect satin in jewel colours was to die for and sure to be a sell out. There was nothing about this collection that I didn’t like, except for perhaps the slightly maternity like long dress. But my dislike of this style probably stems from the fact that I am so short and it would look ridiculous on me. That is not to say that it would not look great on someone else.

The combinations of prints were also amazingly desireable. This collection was everything that I love about fashion vibrant, alive and very very stylish.

Although no where near as eye catching as Erdem’s collection, this Great Plains dress is a great every day alternative with its striking blue floral pattern.

pictures from www.style.com

The Christopher Kane collection for autumn winter 09 was completely unexpected and a  far cry from his spring summer 09 collection which was bright, happy and inspiring. In contrast the latest collection was uncharacteristically understated and some would say bordering on frumpy in parts. Paid or checked jumpers and cardigans which would not look out of place on a Grandpa (although both mine were very stylish) were worn over dresses and skirts. This is not a look which I will be trying out. The colour scheme was fairly bland. The saving grace for this collection was the hint of whimsical dresses that peeped out from under the cardigans and showed a bit of Kane’s characteristically detailed chiffon dresses. With frills, ribbon embellishments and appliqued stripes on organza, this is much more the Christopher Kane that I love. 

No doubt there will be many that love the understated chic of this collection and will applaud the change of direction for Kane. I have quite mixed feelings and whilst I loved the chiffon, frilly and panelled dresses, there was little else about it that excited me.

If you prefer a little whimsy rather than sensible grown up clothes, you willl love this Miss Sixty Adelasia Strap Dress.

pictures from www.style.com

Underwear, trench coats and transparency seemed to be the big themes at Richard Nicolls autumn winter 2009 at London Fashion Week. A bit of a odd combination and one that some would say would be difficult to wear in a classy way. But he did and the collection was not only stylish but probably one of his most innovative so far. Definitely a show to get him registering quite noticeably on the fashion radar (that’s if he wasn’t already).

The every obvious but subtle (if you know what I mean) underwear references included a suspender clasp or two hear and there, delicate chemise like dresses and corset style dresses. All was done in a very tasteful and wearable manner. Another key feature of the show was the ultra cropped tops, jackets and even trench coats. Again I though this was a really wearable look and wouldn’t mind getting a few of these myself. By cropping the tops and jackets so short, he created a really interesting layered effect. The transparent clothing added even more interest revealing further layers underneath.

The whole collection was in muted neutral colours, an unusual choice for an autumn winter collection but one that worked surprisingly well. It was a refreshing change from the traditional blacks and greys which are sashayed down the catwalk at most autumn winter shows.

Get this look with a underwear inspired slip style dress like this Religion green silk beaded dress.

Pictures from www.style.com

Charles Anastase is on of the hottest designers of the moment at London Fashion week, so I waited with anticipation for his autumn winter 09 collection. I wasn’t at all disappointed. His collection was really the sort of outfits that I love to wear. It was inspired by second hand clothes and Kurt Cobain amongst other things. Each individual piece in the collection was not particularly remarkable on its own but when combined they worked that eclectic look that has become so popular with vintage and second hand enthusiasts lately. This look is all about using clever combinations to create a really unique and individual look.

Charles Anastase managed to make some very unusual combinations look amazing. Who would have though of combining a pink mohair cardigan with a black and red striped jumper dress? not me. But he did and I think it looked great. The whole collection had a feeling of nostalgia about it. Perhaps it is because of the references to clothes that were worn from charity shops during his adolescence or perhaps because of the under tones of grunge that I loved so much in my own teenage years. Overall a look that is sure be popular.

A great way to get started with your second hand grunge look is with these patent red boots.

picture from www.intothefray.com/blog 

There have been so many great posts this week to read with New York Fashion Week in full swing, here are some of my favourites:

I am loving Susie Bubbles of Style Bubbles commentary on New York Fashion Week as well as being extremely jealous that she got to go.

Posh Swaps shows us how to find the perfect colours to make you look and feel great in Colour Analysis

Queen Michelle of Kingdom of style has a desperate urge to get sparkly, she tell us all about it in Desperately seeking sequins.

The Style PA gives has a great post called Tips - dare to wear flares, something that is particularly difficult when you are as short as me.

Hot Chocolate and Mint has put together a gorgeous outfit in pink, grey and black. I would never have though of layering the pink skirts but it looks great.

Into the Fray really gave me something to laugh about today when I read her post on pet love, just read it and you will see what  mean.

Denim and jeans are always a summer and winter staple. Each season a new trend or style of denim emmerges to compliment the usual array of boot cut, wide legged, skinny, indigo, coloured and navy jeans. This summer the look for denm is acid washed, stone washed, ripped, torn and bleached. Celebrities like Katie Holmes who have become famous for the wearing of jeans lead the way in denim fashion with jeans from some of the hottest designer labels.

At House of Holland, the jeans had a bit of comedy value about them. With large holes punched at periodic intervals showing a pair of long shorts underneath and roughly rolled up hems.

At Diesel Black Gold dark washed out denims with scuffs and tears were again roughly rolled up at the hemand worn with ankle boots and almost matching tops boots and bags for an all over denim blue outfit.

At Balmain, the jeans were just about the most desirable for this season. They were skinny in style with bright white bleached and mottled effects. Worn with a military style tailored jacket for amazing effect.

pictures from Elleuk.com

If you like the look of the skinny washed out denim trend for spring summer 09, these Evisu jeans will be just what you are looking for.