Fashion Week Wrap-Up: London

By Robert Cordero
March 9, 2010

Of all the fashion capitals, London produces the most daring fashion. So naturally, the trends that come off the London Fashion Week runways are usually the most progressive of the season. If you consider yourself ahead of the fashion game, why wait until fall? Use our eBay picks to try the trends right now. And for some additional options, check out our New York Fashion Week Wrap-Up.

Long Skirts

Roksanda Ilincic Runway (Photo by Samir Hussein/Getty Images)

Mid-calf hemlines gave skirts a romantic yet modern feel. The Big Love ladies may wear below-the-knee skirts as part of their conservative uniform, but Acquascutum’s take, which was lean in wool, is part of the house’s modernization strategy. Margaret Howell sent out skirts that were a-line and assymetrical; Jonathan Suanders placed techno elements like sheen and perforations in his offerings; Pringle showed pleated in leather; and Roksanda Ilincic paraded lustrous silk with coats of the same length.

Get the Look on eBay:

Missoni Long Purple Yellow Knit Sequin Skirt (buy it now price, $239.99)

Killer Prints

Basso & Brooke (Photo by Antonio de Moraes Barros Filho/WireImage)

Forget your run of the mill stripes, polka dots, or florals. In London, the more outlandish the prints, the better. Emilio De Le Morena’s prints heightened the designers deconstructed, yet feminine layers; Louise Gray piled on various colorful prints in several layered looks; and Basso Brooke's abstract looked like optical illusions. Erdem was also experimental, but the talented designer showcased a palpably gorgeous collection of floor length gowns and shifts engulfed prints that though offbeat, could be identified as birds and flowers.

Get the Look on eBay:

Marni Print Long Sleeve Pleat Dress (buy it now price, $399)

Dramatic Cuts
In New York, we saw geometric cuts that allowed flirty peeks at the skin. But what was peek-a-boo in New York mutated into no holds barred across the pond. Ann Sofie Back randomly slashed dresses and body suits leaving little to the imagination; Mark Fast’s body-con numbers had a series of holes, which created patterns all over the body; and Danielle Scutt’s alpaca coat featured semi-circular cuts at each side about the waist. Mario Schwab returned to London from New York, and followed up his work at Halston with a more rigid outing, complete with with rectangular necklines that framed faces.

Ann-Sofie Back (Photo by Antonio de Moraes Barros Filho/WireImage)

Miu Miu Cut-Out Retro Dress (buy it now price, $890)

Inventive Fabric Effects

Mark Fast & Mary Katrantzou (Photo by Antonio de Moraes Barros Filho/WireImage)

Arguably the best collection of the season, Mary Katranzou’s outing was heavy in design ingenuity. Yes the clever way she uses large format prints was there, but what grabbed our attention this time was large, statement-making gold jewelry-like appliqués on fabrics as well as the layers of lace that hutted out of dresses. Holly Fulton continued the plastic appliqués on dresses; Meadham Kirchoff’s Indian- inspired collection produced a wonderfully schizophrenic amalgamation of beads, lace, sequins, and leather in brave outfits; and Christopher Kane hand=painted leather with florals in utterly desirable skirts, dresses, and tops.

Balenciaga Kaffiyeh Beaded Dress (winning bid, $2,036.99)

Patchwork Panels

Burberry Prorsum (Photo by Chris Moore/Catwalking/Getty Images)

Michael Van der Ham presented himself with the incredibly difficult task of stitching together panels of silk, wool and lace into outfits. Thankfully, he has the construction skills to execute this challenge, which he proved in appealingly light dresses. Peter Pilotto took on the same task and achieved it equally well, but his technique was less organic and more geometric. Burberry’s Prorsum’s show was live streamed in 3D all over the world, and Christopher Bailey’s update of the labels heritage included patcwork paneled lace pencil skirts.

Marni Golden Silk & Wool Patchwork Tank Top (buy it now price, $269)

Robert Cordero is editor at JC Report, an influential online global style publication, where he also works on the new media company's business development and marketing initiatives.

Tags: