This season LFW was celebrated in good weather - something that is never a given in London - and great spirits. The shows returned to a brand new space at the Strand and the new collections all had an unusually relaxed feel about them.
Regent Street has taken an even more central role during fashion week, not only because Topshop and Burberry are major shows on the official schedule, but because both retailers are leading the ‘See now - Buy now’ movement. The concept brings the collections to stores and online right after they debuted on the runway and are without a doubt the most talked about pieces of the season.
The hyped collections literally seem to fly off the shelves; Burberry was already short on stock of the architectural boots that everybody seemed to fall in love with the night before.
As fashion week brings the “it” crowd to town, retailers always make sure to debut their season’s strongest pieces just in time for the action-packed week. Soho and Mayfair still remain as one of the most popular areas for presentations, which made Regent Street the busiest street for the fashion crowd with everything from shopping to eating.
The relaxed feel of the debuting collections is a trend that seems to push boundaries when it comes to dress codes as well as general styling. The street-lead trends are not only easy to wear, but effortless to shop.
OVERSIZED HOODIES & KNITS can easily replace your jacket and will be that piece to invest in now, and to wear forever. The ‘borrowed from the boys’ trend is here to stay and should be fully embraced - fashion is not always this comfortable. Burberry leads the trend with beautifully asymmetrical cuts and volumous blouses, but the trend is not hard to spot, especially when you don’t rule out the mens’ section.
Another trend that seemed to rule the catwalk this season, was the return of BOLD STATEMENT COLOURS - mixed and matched for a brand new take on colour-blocking.
Black, which tends to be the dominant colour for AW trends, took a backseat as we saw everything from cobalt blue skirts mixed with spearmint green boots to pink knits paired with scarlet red trousers. Safe to say that there are no more rules when it comes to mixing colour. The trend is currently mastered by Regent Street retailer Kate Spade New York - the queen of colour. Opt for one of her multi-coloured bags or be more creative by layering strong, block colour pieces with a bright pair of shoes. Pick your favourite from the many options Stuart Weitzman is offering.
The trend that seemed to surprise most viewers, was the many variations of FLORAL PRINTS which tend to be a summer favourite. However, this season the prints were heavier winter florals, similar to the likes of wallpaper or upholstery prints.
Embroidery and embellishments complemented the classical prints, making it easier than ever to invest in trans-seasonal pieces. Look out for darker prints or easy-to-wear black pieces complemented with embroidery or a print - like these Michael Kors boots or Polo Ralph Lauren blouse.
With thanks to Sandra Hagelstam, founder and editor of fashion and lifestyle site 5 Inch and Up.