SNAP Fashion

LFW: A totally tropical taster

Despite having to contend with Autumnal showers, windy evenings and hot LFW show spaces, when it comes to summer, tropical prints and bright coloured beachwear are always popular. And SS13 will be no exception. The Caroline Charles show was a great start to our LFW and got us in that summery mind-set with tropical sarongs and bright bikinis. We saw heady tropical prints at Clements Ribeiro (mixed in with classic stripes) and tropical birds amongst palms at Issa London.

The holiday vibe continued at Mary Katrantzou, whose distinctive style incorporated exotic postage stamps and luggage labels, while Matthew Williamson looked to India for his inspiration and Moschino Cheap & Chic’s collection featured African-inspired prints alongside its quirky staples such as the super cute vinyl rain mac. Here’s some of our favourite looks that will have you reaching for a pina colada.

Caroline Charles – feeling fishy!

Clements Ribeiro does dreamy florals

Issa London – love the tropical toucans!

Mary Katrantzou shows off birdy postage stamps

Kinda 70s with African print at Moschino Cheap & Chic

Indian influences at Matthew Williamson

Pics: London Fashion Week.

LFW: Oriental take-away

The ‘Oriental’ trend has been bubbling away for a while and is a pretty big trend this Autumn thanks to Proenza Schouler and friends -check out River Island if you don’t believe us! But it’s going to carry if the catwalks of LFW are anything to go by and be a trend for Spring too.

Fyodor Golan’s collection had a Japanese influence and played heavily on different textures. We got up-close-and-personal at Somerset House and the beadwork was exquisite, matched only by the prints on floaty silk dresses that remind me of Hokusai’s woodblock of tsunami waves. Woven materials and leather also added structure. This has to be one of my favourite collections of SS13 so far.

Huishan Zhang’s collection was inspired his Chinese heritage and features incredible lace work, silk panels with Chinese scenes and characters, amazing beaded sections and traditional shapes that are re-worked to look modern.

One of the new names at LFW, Huishan only graduated from Central Saint Martin’s a couple of years ago and one of the dresses from his graduate collection, a fitted cheongsam style dress will go on show at the V&A museum’s T.T Tsui Gallery of Chinese Art, as part of its permanent collection.

Want. Need! Hats off/on to Mr Fyodor + Mr Golan

Perfect party dress (minus the blue make-up that looks a bit like a tashe!)

Huishan Zhang keeps it fairly classic

Amazing silk and lace

Pics: London Fashion Week and Snap Fashion.

LFW Day5: Mary Katrantzou vs Holly Fulton + power prints

I am a Mary Katrantzou nut and in fact a bit of a digital print fanatic so bring on the detail!

Last season was all about flowers for Mary K but for winter she has composed her trademark incredible prints with everyday objects (watches, bows, hangers, mazes, typewriters, phones…) grouped in strong colours with the usual clever use of symmetry. We particularly like the witty pencil skirt with pencils on it – genius – and better still the work was executed by Chanel’s couture embroiderers Lesage…quite a coup for the young designer, non?

What can we say? The prints are inspired and the cutting exquisitely creative. Just enjoy x

I'm head-over-heels for these blue themed prints

Drama on the catwalk

Details backstage

A riot of colour

Super pretty!

And so to another with a penchant for print. Holly Fulton is best known for her Art Deco inspired pieces but she has opted for hot pink and bright turquoise in the winter (of course) with inspiration from Lady Chatterley’s Lover and Miami Art Deco buildings apparently. Then of course there were black lines everywhere – Fulton’s trademark – and plenty of sleek lines.

But unlike previous collections there was extra embellishment and even a little William Morris-like detailing, giving what fashion editors think is a new kind of sophistication and I agree- especially the less lurid, more monochrome pieces, which I love.

Turquoise-tastic

I LOVE this dress

A more sophisticated look

Proof the printed trouser trend is here to stay

Pretty in (hot) pink

Some of the creations on a rack behind the scenes

Pics from Elle, Topshop’s blog, LFW and my camera!

LFW day 4/5: the future by Antonio Berardi, David Koma + more

With a penchant for new materials, Perspex and metallics over the past few seasons it was no surprise that some of our favourite designers look to the future with their collections.

Antonio Berardi created a real sense of futuristic drama with deep origami-like folds, silver, peplum shapes jutting out at the hips and seriously sharp tailoring. And check out the haircuts.

The future Berardi style

Future gets slinky

We hear that a number of fashion editors left ahead of the David Koma show (ouch) and there were mixed reviews about the usually edgy designer’s use of rainbow taffeta. I got a look at the collection up-close and the use of giant eyelets were interesting with the (dubious) taffeta, threaded through in some cases like giant shoe laces. There was also plenty of silver hardware (harking back to earlier arguably more ‘Koma’ collections and shards of Perspex, adding the future mixed with the 1960s look.

Very sixties future - note the peplum

Taffeta-tastic?

Christopher Kane’s use of quirky fabric and boxy cut fits neatly into the futuristic box, as does Peter Pilotto’s streamlined silhouettes and spacey puffer jackets. And might we describe Fred Buttler as origami of the future?!

Futuristic fabric at Christopher Kane

Pilotto obsessed

Crazy origami at Fred Buttler

Gilets go space age!

LFW day 3/4: rainbow furs

Ok let’s address the obvious: fur. EEW. We hear that some of it is real and that’s just mean. While we wouldn’t buy any real fur at all we can’t deny that candy-coloured furriness (real or fake) was a trend on this year’s catwalk and we’re pretty sure it will run through to the high street – with fake look-a-like items available.

Matthew Williamson put fur collars on a number of his 1950s-style frocks and featured an eye-catching pale blue furry jacket. Peter Pilotto included rainbow-coloured fur (or furry) stoles and collars in their multi-coloured collection too. What’s your take on this controversial trend?

Blue fur at Matthew Williamson

Fur at Peter Pilotto

Rainbow fur

Colour pops of the furry variety

LFW day 3: Uniform + military style

The military trend was massive last, last winter and it looks like it’s coming back again…attention!

Unique’s show was surprisingly grown up – it must be the influence of Kate Phelan, ex-fashion director at Vogue who is now installed in Topshop Towers.

No gimmicks, glitter (sigh!) or animal print, every piece – even the velvet jumpsuit described as a boyfriend scarer by some- was super wearable. I’m especially chuffed as Topshop seems to be growing older with me!

Herringbone, sophisticated layers, shearing and hooded coats were de rigor as well as leather trousers. Kilts are back! Military coats were more heavy-duty and longer than before in luxe, warm material. Check out the A-listers too.

Super FROW: Alexa, pixie, Poppy Delevigne, laura Carmichael, Nicola Roberts + Jameela Jamil

The new military coat

Love this utilitarian velvet jumpsuit

Kinda grunge meets military

Paul Smith’s jackets were lighter weight, shorter and more equestrian – or the type that higher-ranking officers might choose!  The geek-chic glasses toned down the military-inspired tailoring.

More jumpsuits at Paul Smith

Nipped in military-ish jacket

Finally, Acne’s achingly cool collection featured vinyl, exaggerated silhouettes and heavy-duty belts. More here.

edgy uniform

LFW day two: make-up vs crayons

Today London was celebrating the arrival of Moschino Cheap & Chic and the collection screamed 1960s, liquorice allsorts and make-up.

Carrying on SS12’s prominent trend of sugary pastel cuteness, pointy kitten heels, pretty lace and candy colours all featured heavily, as well as bright pink knits with crochet collars, bold buttons teamed with sixties style cigarette trous.

And the best bit? The amazing prints featuring lips, make-up and bows. Just soooo cute. Our biggest criticism: fur, which apparently is real. Eew. Just say no.

Make-up prints with bright lace - is this really for winter?!

The eyes have it

I LOVE this 1960s style coat with cute pointy shoes

Henry Holland also stuck with bright pastels but the shot of primary red (dubbed Crayola red by some) which featured surprisingly heavily in the House of Holland collection, stopped it being too saccharine.

I loved the bright zig-zags in the silk dresses but the 1970s flared leggings with blazers left me cold. The punchy Hounds tooth was very Holland but it was all a little too disco for me. I prefer Holland in his statement tshirt era.

The highlight of the show?

The houndstooth look

More zig zags

Pics: From Vogue and Twitter.

LFW day two: prim and proper heritage looks

With all the avant-garde crazy concepts around it’s easy to forget that Britain has some of the most reputable heritage brands and dependable designers turning out prim and proper looks.

Daks showcased 1920s style devore dresses, slinky silks and Great Gatsby-esque chiffon dresses along with tailored trousers, obligatory check fabric and cute clutch bags.

A flavour of Daks

Aquascutum’s show was all about the coat. Swishy winter coats with furry elbows sat nicely alongside its traditional trench, as well a more adventurous plum biker jacket. The other emphasis was on wholesome combinations of fabric, with wools, tweed, leather and shearing all looking luxurious and polished.

Coat crush

Jasper Conran played it safe. The sequin dresses were perfectly wearable but not exactly exciting; however elegant camel cashmere and simple shifts will keep his fans happy.

2 classics: dependable Jasper Conran and the camel coat

LFW: brights + quirky prints grow up on day one

As ever, London Fashion Week is an eclectic mix of designers with very different ideas, but on day one we were treated to more vibrant colours and complex prints.

Antoni & Alison’s collection was typically playful and we particularly liked the blown-up digital print details of paper bags, individual sequins, brocade and bows. Despite the fun collage theme the collection was chic and the wispy shift and ladylike shapes exuded a relaxed kind-of sophistication.

Bright and breezy

Love the sequins and paper bag detail

A sucker for paper prints, spots and bows

Frodor Golan kept the tribal print alive with a striking, flowing gown, while Bora Aksu channelled polished peasantry with a folk-inspired dip dye dress in tangerine and crisp floral prints.

Tribal glam from Frodor Golan

Bora Aksu finale

Basso and Brooke’s collection was focused on print-clashing with spots, stripes, zig-zags and colours all mashed together. There was a patchwork quality to it and we noted innovative use of scaling of the prints – much like Antoni & Alison’s collection, but to a very different effect.

Full-on clash!

I love these trousers (but with a relaxed white tee!)

Interesting use of different sized prints

LFW: Digital print + metallics on day 1

Good news! Two of our favourite trends have got a new lease of life for Autumn!

Metallics have got dirty and more natural with pewter and copper replacing bright silver. The Felder Felder collection was apparently inspired by photos of nudes in caves by Ryan McGinley and you can see all the pretty stony colours in the beautiful prints.

Beautiful cave-inspired print

This might be my favourite

Jean-Pierre Braganza’s collection had a more industrial feel with moody pewter with metallic-detail patterns and more structured silhouettes. The brighter prints had delicious shots of purple through them and hidden chandeliers.

Look carefully for the chandeliers!

Sexy, structured pewter

PPQ mixed grown-up monochrome prints with moss green metallics and shiny black pieces and while there were quirky touches – the occasional heart sequin on a check and clusters of gems, tweed, sensible knits and floaty demure dresses mark a turning point for the LFW favourite. Apparently the inspiration was the ‘apocalyptic romance of winter’.

Soooo grown-up!

Metallic Moss

Check out the tweed! (Oh and the furry pants and metallic top)

All pics from Vogue.