Day 3 London Fashion Week

A few last minute invitations ensured that today was a bit of a dash about, with shows taking place in all corners of London. In the early afternoon I saw a Couture show by Ada Zanditon at the stunning ME London hotel on the Strand, opposite Somerset House. I was very grateful for the gift bag with the free spa treatment inside (I am aching all over) and to meet another fashion writer and Stylist, Lupe Castro (check out her blog here). The show/presentation was over quite quickly but the clothes certainly made an impact - think ornamental armour. I then flew over to the Swedish School of Textiles Show at Freemasons Hall, and saw some amazing new design concepts from young designers working on the theme of the digital impact in fashion.  My final show for the day was Toga, created by Japanese designer Yasuku Foruto, With a tough, yet classic signature look, I adored every single one of the thirty looks which had a beautiful, chaotic complexity.

Swedish School of Textiles

Toga - the whole show was a tour de force

Ada Zanditon Couture at ME Hotel

I also wandered around the accessories section of the Designer Showrooms at Somerset House and fell in love with a whole range of amazing brands, including these ones below.

Gorgeous Mayrafedane bags

My favourite jewellery designer Maria Francesca Pepe's new collection

Highly cool Camilla Elphick shoes

OK, time to check out what happened at the shows today...

Preen by Thornton Bragazzi

I love it when people mix tribal warrior with 80s hip-hop. Not that it's been done all that much  before. The collection mixed Preen's usual colourful prettiness with a harder edge, helped along by the fringing and the sexy body-con bandage dresses. There was also a sports edge with a nod to cricket whites. I particularly liked the dresses that mixed pretty florals with go faster sporting stripes.

Topshop Unique



Cara, Jourdan et al paraded out the collection; the overall theme of which was sheer/sporty.  There weren't so many original looks, the pressure to be commercial was always going to be lurking in the background. I favoured the frill detail on the dresses and the stripes, were are definitely a key trend for next spring/summer.

Vivienne Westwood Red Label

Sometimes you don't need to print political statements all over your clothes to make an impact, the odd well-placed badge will also have the same effect. Dame Viv threw out the Rebel Pirate, a particularly strong look involving pedal pushers, a ruffled polka dot vest and a big floppy hat with a Yes badge strategically attached to it. The draping was typically en pointe, with the triple tiered dresses offering up a new silhouette. 

Mary Katrantzou

 

Each season Ms Katrantzou, queen of the print moves away from her comfort zone. Her latest collection, influenced by Pangaea, the ancient land mass where all continents were joined before they broke apart did not disappoint. The looks took inspiration from both land and sea (the super-ocean Pantalassa), with a colour palette featuring sandy and watery tones, ancient-looking snakeskin and patterns that resembled coral. Slipdresses and sheath dresses dominated to stunning effect.

Tomorrow sees Burberry Prorsum, Roksansa, Christopher Kane and Mr Tom Ford.