07.10.2011- Fashion Week Top Five: London SS12

Although it seems that the SS12 presentations of London Fashion Week took place months ago and are probably considered old news by now (such is the fickle nature of the fashion world), the collections presented in London have remained by far my favourites, proving more memorable than anything I've seen since. Thanks in part to label juggernauts such as Mulberry and Burberry bringing their presentations back to home turf, London is now no longer thought of as the grubbier, more eccentric cousin of ultra-polished New York and glamorous Milan, but is now instead rightly recognised as the hub of new design talent and creativity. Of course we still love our eccentricity (the amazing Meadham Kirchhoff show springs to mind), but London is now more than ever holding its own against the more commercial stops on the fashion month tour. Here are my top picks from the capital's SS12 presentations:

Season after season, I'm always amazed by Erdem's creations. Just when I think his work can't possibly get any better, I'm happily proved wrong. This collection was stunning- signature prints were given a fresh, airy twist and romantic lace featured heavily throughout.

The Giles show was my standout from London Fashion Week- the sheer spectacle was breathtaking. I loved the theatricality of this presentation and the ethereal style of the designs. Luxurious floor-length silk dresses, feather details and metallic accents all evoked an other-worldly quality, and the repeated use of the swan motif throughout this magical collection created a thoroughly fairy-tale like flavour.

The shimmering dresses, vibrant floral patterns and sparkling embellishments all caught my eye at Christopher Kane. The cool, minimalist styling kept things simple, and I love how nonchalantly the looks have been put together- never have I seen flip-flops look so chic!

The Mulberry presentation was a real ray of sunshine. Butterscotch yellows and vivid jungle prints provided us with a vibrant, kooky take on the Great British Summertime. The tousled beehive hairstyles nodded to the nostalgia of 1960s beach holidays, as did the oh-so-cool (but surprisingly tricky to pull off in real life) socks and sandals combo which featured throughout. Beautiful bags in a new array of shapes and colours were, of course, obligatory.

Pretty pleats, sunshine colours and cinched in waists were all key components of the Emilia Wickstead collection, which was demure, ladylike and sophisticated. Each look feels really wearable, and the simple yet classic shapes ensured each design was both versatile and elegant. 

What did you think of London Fashion Week? Which shows were your favourites?

(Image credit: style.com, fashiongonerogue and vogue.fr.)