Pictures from style.com

Marios Schwab’s collection was probably one of my favourites for SS10. It was elegant and stylish but also fresh and innovative. I loved the way he layered different textures, patterns, draping and chiffon in the long floor length outfits. With so much going on he still managed to create something very aesthetically pleasing that did not look too busy. Each of the elements was cleverly combined giving an overall finish that was incredibly wearable. I am tempted to try and create my own version of this look right now but I am guessing that it would not be quite as simple as Marios has made it look.

Marios has explained that the design of this collection came about by dividing the body into three zones to invent a proportion that didn’t look retro. I love it and I think it is really going to catch on.

Keep your look in proportion by wearing these slightly futuristic looking Marios Schwab shoes.

Each year at London Fashion Week estethica seems to get bigger, better and more interesting. Estethica is the British Fashion Councils Eco sustainable initiative which is sponsored by Monsoon and is now in it’s seventh season. This season thirteen designers and nine new labels have joined taking the total number of labels to 28. 

All estethica designers adhere to at least one of the three estethica principles of fair-trade and ethical practices, organic and recycled materials and are selected for both their ethical credentials and design excellence. New additions for this season include the exciting new ethical knitwear label, North Circulat, set up by Super models Lily Cole and Katherine Poulton along with Izzy Lane. The label use ethical wool from rare breeds of sheep rescued from slaughter which is then knitted by grannies locally to produce the final product.

Estethica provides support and advice to the labels during London fashion week aswell as in areas such as brand development. I think it is great that there is so  much going on in the ethical fashion arena. Ultimately it means more choice in design led ethical clothes and more guilt free shopping.

If you want to invest in some good ethical basics for your wardrobe that can be combined with some designer ethical pieces, try this Fairtrade cotton top.

Paul Smith is the perfevt Bristish designer. His designs are quirky with a touch of the British sense of humour and a nod to British heritage. His SS10 collection departed slightly from this theme with inspiration taken from Gentlemen of Bakongo. with the fashion obsessed Congalese Dandies called Sapeurs. The collection even had a copy of the books cover with a pink suit, orange striped shirt and red shoes.  

The collection also included plenty of bright colours and some great jacket and cardigan combinations, perhaps outfiits that you would usually think of for summer but if the last few British summers are anything to go by probably quite suitable.

This Paul Smith Optics cardigan is the perfect colour scheme to take you through autumn and winter and into next summer.

 pictures from style.com

Bright, colorful, fresh, feminine and interesting, Matthew Williamson’s clothes are everything that I love about fashion and his collection for SS10 as usual did not disappoint. He is one of my favourite designers and I am so glad that he is back at London Fashion Week along with a few of my other favourites. His SS10 collection ticked all of the boxes and in true Matthew Williamson style made me feel summery.

I loved the colour combinations and the patterns, the sparkle, the draping and the embellishment. The collection was perhaps fairly predictable and didn’t break much new ground. But then if this is the winning formula of fashion that people like to buy, then why change it. My particular favorites of this collection are a rainbow coloured print puffball dress, a silver and turquoise embellished dress, a black and white crochet dress and a multi coloured swimsuit with black knickers.

Get yourself some tropical Matthew Williamson style with this black, white and pink top.

picture from www.celebrity-gossip.net

As usual Victoria Beckham has managed to whip up a media storm with her first appearance a London Fashion Week to celebrate it’s 25th anniversary. Victoria arrived at Le Caprice restaurant for a dinner to celebrate the anniversary with all the big fashion names including Anna Wintour.

Victoria wore a stunning strapless dress from her own collection in black, white and yellow. The dress which had a puffed hem and diagonal design definitely managed to catch everyones eye and secure some front page publicity for her fashion line.

Although I am sure that it is  not an issue for Posh, for many of us, a strapless dress presents a problem in which underwear to wear. A strapless and seamless bra like this wonderbra nude strapless bra is the perfect and option.

The ubiquitous little black dress is a staple in ever girls wardrobe. It is a classic item that every girl has at least one of. It is perfect for any evening do or party. On those occasions when you just can’t  find anything to wear, the little black dress is always the perfect choice.

In case you get bored of the plain little black dress, Luella has included a fun and updated version in her SS10 collection shown at London Fashion Week this week. The little black dress which featured a bell style skirt, sleeveless bodice and high neck had  a new take on the sweetheart neckline with a cut out heart shape. A hint of romance and a feminine fun dress, I love it.

Update your wardrobe for winter with this updated version of the Little Black dress by Kaliko.

This week to mark the 25th Aniversary of London Fashion Week Burberry returned home to London from Milan where it has previously been showing for a number of seasons. The collection by Christopher Bailey was shown in a tent at Chelsea College of Art and Design. The Yorkshire designer managed to generate a significant celebrity crowd with attendees including the likes of Gwyneth Paltrow, Victoria Beckham, Liv Tyler and Anna Wintour to name but a few.

 The collection was very apt for the British brands return to London Fashion Week with a modernised  version of the traditional trench coat for which Burberry is so well known. There were also gorgeous sugary coloured clothes with chiffon and gauze teamed with cashmere. Mini skirts, feathered leather, leggings and silk trousers were also all on paraded ip and down the catwalk.

Picture Emma Watson in Burberry before the show - from The Telegraph

Get some very classic British style with this Burberry knitwear.

picture from www.telepgraph.co.uk

Mark Fast caused quite a stir this week with the use of plus sized (size 14) models at his London Fashion week catwalk show. According to the Telegraph, one stylist walked out in disgust. However, I am betting there are many more applauding his show of defiance against the use of unhealthily thin models in the fashion industry, a debate that has been rumbling on for some time. Even Vogue editor Alexandra Shulman has reportedly been involved with a letter to top designers explaining that their size zero clothes are too small to even fit some of the established models.

I think the size 14 knitted dressed looked great on the models and would be more likely to buy something that I know suits a normal sized woman. I did however note that only a small proportion of the collection was modelled by larger models, perhaps suggesting that the rest of the dresses would not have suited their fuller proportions. I suppose that there needs to be balance and there are so many different shapes and sizes, all of which need to be catered for but the fashion industry still has a long way to go in it’s acceptance of normal sized women.

The high street certainly have a range of dresses for all shapes and sizes including size 14. I love this cowl neck dress.

picture from www.londonfashionweek.co.uk

This year London Fashion Week is celebrating it’s 25th anniversary. Paul Costelloe is one of the most established designers at London Fashion Week and has been showing for the past 15 years. For the last 5 has been opening London Fashion Week with his show. He was born in Dublin and has been the head of his successful label for 25 years. Suprisingly despite training in Paris at the Chamber Syndicate, he sites the greatest fashion learning for him as living in Paris in the era of Ungaro and Cardin.  

Paul Costelloe has worked in both the designer and high street retail industries with experience at Marks and Spencers as well as Jacques Esterel.

His designs are perfect for the woman who wants to both contemporary and classic. He uses high quality and sometimes unusual fabrics and tailored pieces with interesting but discreet details. He is well known for his very wearable designs that have a fresh and modern feel.

Paul Costelloe Waterfall Ribbed Cardigan

Paul Costelloe Winged Collar Charcoal Jacket

Paul Costelloe Hand Printed Wool Skirt

Paul Costelloe Slim Leg Palazzo Trouser 

picture Burberry Prorsum Fall 09 from www.style.com

I can’t wait until London Fashion Week in September. It looks set to be a huge celebration of British fashion, with it’s usual exciting group of innovative young designers along with some of the best known British designers and labels including Matthew Williamson, Luella and Vivienne Westwood. Burberry Prorsum is the latest great British label to return to London, signalling that our capital is the place to be when it comes to fashion.

Burberry has been showing at Milan fashion week since May 2001. It is a label synonomous with classic British clothing including it’s legendary trench coat. Now seems like a great time for it’s return. With the British Fashion Council celebrating both their own 25th anniversairy and that of London Fashion week, the capital looks set to be buzzing with style this September. Burberry has achieved global sucess but it is a quintessentially British brand and it’s heritage is a key part of it’s success.

Celebrate Burberry’s return to London Fashion Week with this Burberry London fragrance that defines the elegance and modern spirit of the Burberry London brand.