For me, Sunday 19 February AKA Day 3 of London Fashion Week was full of Autumn/Winter style highlights. I was eagerly anticipating Twenty8Twelve's presentation, some glitzy sophistication from Matthew Williamson, and effortless cool, as always, from Swedish designers Acne.

Tapping into one of my favourite trends Twenty8Twelve presented some gorgeous tailored jackets and coats inspired by the cuts of 1960's London. Top picks included a beautiful, soft-looking suit jacket in light grey with an almost collarless neckline and a cropped grey jacket with black Chanel-style trim and gold button details. As always I was also loving the shorts - in a whole host of lengths, colours, fabrics, patterns, and even with attached waistcoat in the shape of braces. The neatly grown-up feel to this collection was complemented perfectly by splashes of colour throughout - green, fuchsia, orange - and a sense of fun popped up in funky pieces like a retro-styled jade green t-sheet. After seeing this coherent collection of urban style, next season I'll be teaming huge slouchy scarves with a splash of colour, a sharp jacket, and 60's hair and make-up.    

Matthew Williamson's Autumn/Winter 12 collection was perhaps the one I was most excited about. Being a sucker for a bit of sparkle and always drawn in by the whimsical, bohemian charm of the designer's distinctly feminine style, I was looking forward to being wowed by some pretty-pretty but not matchy-matchy pieces. And MW certainly didn't disappoint. Think sophisticated dresses reminiscent of 1920s glamour, in peacock palettes, glittering gold flecks, floaty chiffon, and tight fur scarves. Warming and co-ordinating layers of red, browns, yellows, and opulent greens, golds, and blues, appeared on clever cut-outs, printed pleats, the ultimate pencil skirts and shifts, as well as neat lines in tailored trousers, jackets and coats. My favourites included mosaic embellishments, explosions of colour on full length flowing dresses, and flecked fur collars.   

Perhaps saving the best until last, Day 3 ended with Acne's Autumn/Winter 12 catwalk show. There was something almost futuristic about the structured shapes and thick-belted cinched in waists as the Acne fembots strutted their super-sleek silhouettes down the catwalk on super-high heels. Shining red leather and goggle-like sunglasses added to the sense that Acne has shifted it's laid-back effortless cool up a notch. This is high fashion, people, for the masses. It takes a little courage to walk in those towering heels, but the normal woman can definitely pull off the gorgeous one shoulder red leather dress, the belted quilted jacket with a pencil skirt in the same brown/green shades, and the space utility chic of a silver gauzy blouse, front-split white skirt, and wide control panel waist belt. A perfect finale to a fantastic day of shows.

Best look of the day - Matthew Williamson

Today , Day 4, I'll be keen to catch the Burberry Prorsum, Fashion East, and McQ shows. Watch this space!

To find out more about the LFW schedule, click here: LONDON FASHION WEEK.   

Enjoy! :-)

The show photos of Mulberry's Autumn/Winter '12 collection are up on the fantastic Vogue website and, oh boy, are they fabulous!

Keeping it British with a delicious palette of warm shades and winter weather-ready fabrics, the show pieces were a real treat for the discerning fashionista who likes to keep it cosy whilst not compromising on style. Featuring gilets, coats, and oversize belted scarfs in big furs, contrasted with pencil skirts and wide-legged trousers beautifully cut in leather, the collection's colours ranged from the outrageous orange, bright yellows, autumnal browns, neutrals, to sophisticated greys and blacks. Carefully style in some fabric clashes of leather and lace, a touch of quilting, and a generous smattering of embellished bags, and the result is Mulberry's perfectly put-together Autumn/Winter collection. 

Best bits and must-haves include a gorgeous cream fur cropped jacket, skinny belts over quilted poncho-esque coats, and clever layers rocking subtle stripes, zig zags, and animal prints. I'll be taking my inspiration for the season from the collection's giant scarfs, splashes of gold and lux tones, and twisting the concept of the little black dress using combinations of structured lace, leather and dramatic all over fur! Love it!

For the full detail and catwalk photos, click here: VOGUE - MULBERRY AW12

Enjoy! :-)



  

Day 3 of London Fashion Week features shows by some of my favourite designers.

Check out the schedule here: Sunday 19 February.

Here's my pick of ones to watch on the catwalk today:

Mulberry - Click here to watch the live show of the Autumn/Winter 12 collection on the Mulberry website (from 10am GMT). I'm excited to see, as always, Mulberry's spot-on luxury English fashion pieces. Today's show is also expected to include a peek at the Mulberry Del Rey - a stunning new bag created in honour of chart-topping American songstress Lana Del Rey (Born To Die).

Twenty8Twelve (presentation) - Edgy, accessible, London fashion label launched in 2007 by sister duo Sienna and Savannah Miller, and still lovingly creating fresh and funky designs (although with S&S no longer at the helm as Creative Directors).

Matthew Williamson - First introduced to Matthew Williamson by his Butterfly collection for Designers at Debenhams, I love this designer's laid-back approach to glamour; combining femininity, fun, and effortless style in a range of pieces that appeal to many different women. Hoping to see some rich colour and, of course, some glitzy embellishments!  

Acne - Super cool Swedish label, once upon a time known for it's characteristic jeans and now globally recognised for creating a sense of subtle luxury, understated high fashion, and stuff real people wear!    

Enjoy! :-)

Ever since I discovered H! by Henry Holland at Debenhams department stores and promptly snapped up an array of budget-friendly quirky patterned dresses and a trusty tan leather tasseled satchel, I have been in love with all of the designer's weird, wonderful, and bang on trend creations.

The House of Holland Ready-To-Wear collection for Autumn/Winter 2012 certainly has the wow-factor for which Henry Holland's pieces are known and loved. Featuring a delightfully bold selection of prints and colours - from houndstooth to zig zags, fuchsia to metallic green - the collection ranged from the outrageous (think jersey all-in-ones in purple stripes) to the downright sophisticated (I'm already picturing myself in a navy/black shift dress with metallic houndstooth trim).

Clearly running through the collection was a sense of fun. Pair this with the incredible originality of each piece and we've got a winner. Absolute must-haves from the collection include neat fitted cardigans in zig zig stripes of black, yellow, pink, blue and red; oversize knits in blue, black, pink and yellow houndstooth; and a stunning black all-in-one maxi-trousers metallic green houndstooth extravaganza! 

See it all here:... Vogue's Catwalk Report and here:.... London Fashion Week Daily

Enjoy! :-)


P.s. Why not follow the House of Holland blog? It's fab!

I've been incredibly busy over the last few weeks but this weekend I'm mainly relaxing, eating neuhaus chocolates from a big red heart-shaped box kindly bought for me on Valentine's Day by my lovely fiance, and following snippets of news about what's going down at this year's London Fashion Week.

Here are my favourite blogs on the subject:

STYLIST.co.uk

mydaily

Vogue

And, of course: London Fashion Week Daily

So far I'm really impressed by the Autumn/Winter 2012 offerings from Felder Felder and Antoni & Alison. Mainly loving the continuation of camels/beiges/gold colour palettes, with British, Aztec and geometric twists. The painted fabrics and quirky embellishments appearing in Antoni & Alison's collection of statement dresses look amazing! Ready to Wear is where it's at!


I'm also looking forward to seeing more from my old favourite Jasper Conran and from my more recent must-have designer, House of Holland. I'll keep you posted!

Enjoy! :-)