London, London, London: It's Review Time Again

I absolutely love London. You know why? When it comes to fashion, it doesn't follow any rigid rules, but rather, contradicts them, with unusual colour combinations and a lot of rock n' roll glamour. While New York reintroduced the bomber jacket, London reinvented the puffer with shearling collars at shows like Burberry and Topshop Unique. While New York was more about classic femininity with midi length skirts in sheer romantic fabrics, London was all about the mini skirt at shows like Felder Felder and J.W Anderson, two labels who gave the look their own unique twist. While New York designers offered many conservative work-appropriate looks, London was more about embracing the colder weather with head scarves at Mary Katrantzou and plastic rain protectors at Christopher Kane which were emblematic of the rainy city the Brits call home. Some of my favourite shows combined that rock n' roll sex appeal that is quintessentially London with an abundance of fluff that was very Kate Moss. Needless to say, I was smitten.

Are you ready to review?

DAKS

Let's begin our discussion with Daks. While watching this show, three words came to mind instantly: dark, sexy, and mysterious. The collection consisted primarily of head-to-toe black looks, but it was anything but plain. A variety of textures were introduced such as the age-old favourite fringe, sheer panelling (for the ladylike amongst us), lace (for a sexy boudoir-inspired look), and velour (for a hint of melodrama). All of this proved that black is for everyone, no matter your personal taste. Though the first look was a long flowy dress, the masculine-inspired pantsuits that followed made this show ooze of sophistication and attitude. Also, my new favourite accessory made an appearance on a variety of looks: the black fedora. Call it goth meets glamour or Sherlock Holmes meets Hercule Poirot, this collection was infused with mystery and left me wanting more. Some of the best looks included a tuxedo jacket I only hope someone will be gutsy enough to wear to the Oscars, a black feathered skirt that took the 1920s flapper to a whole other level, and a ruffled dress with a bow that strongly appealed to my girly side. Needless to say, I'll need an order of every piece from this collection. Please and thank you.

FAVOURITE LOOK: 3

via vogue.com

JULIEN MACDONALD

Are you ready for a glamorous night on the town with a glass of champagne and a man on your arm? Well first, you need to take a look at Julien Macdonald's latest Fall 2016 collection. The designer took everything that is sexy and put it together in a variety of looks only suitable for the model of duty or a woman with infinite confidence (proven by none other than British model, Jourdan Dunn, who owned look 55 at the Brit Awards). Of course, it wouldn't be a party girl collection without a lot of glitter and sparkle, some high slits, and deep Vs that even a true disco diva would have to be quite daring to wear. The primary colour tones were silver and black, but what really struck my attention was the pop of red that almost seemed out of place, yet so consistent with the theme of the collection. If you're daring enough to try one of these looks at your next big event, I urge you to go for a long slinky number with major cutouts. As for me, I'm smitten with the little white dress that closed the show fit for a ballerina and sex kitten all at once.

FAVOURITE LOOK: 55

via vogue.com

DAVID KOMA

Every year, I like to talk about David Koma because he seems to know exactly what women yearn to wear, or maybe just me. This season, the collection was all about structured lines and muted tones like pale grey and white.The designer maintained his signature architectural theme on many of his looks with asymmetrical hems and strategic cutouts at the shoulders. The collection veered into darker territory halfway through the show with head-to-toe black looks combined with metallic accents and the ever-so-edgy cobalt blue. Some specks of red were introduced on a few sportswear inspired dresses and mixed print dresses. By the end, the handiwork was blatant and sexy with bits of metal scattered in unusual places to create works of art you would have only expect to see at the Tate.

FAVOURITE LOOK: 19

via vogue.com

MULBERRY

Mulberry hasn't presented a show at London Fashion Week in a number of years and now that it has finally made a comeback, I could not be more pleased. Coats were definitely the style statement at the show in fall-ready colours like maroon and navy blue with a few striking capes dispersed in between. One of the most remarkable colour combinations in the collection was khaki and maroon, two colours I would have never imagined at the same dinner table, but a combo I can't stop thinking about. The collection eased quickly into edgy streetwear with blouses and dress pants that had just the right amount of attitude and leather accents that still managed to radiate femininity. Bold furs and strong colours like red and yellow gave every look a unique touch while capturing everything that I love about London. When it comes to fashion, this city is fearless and that's exactly what Johnny Coca demonstrated at Mulberry this week with just enough sex appeal to make it rock n' roll. Did I mention, I'm dying for a pair of those platform shoes?

FAVOURITE LOOK: 9

via vogue.com

TOPSHOP UNIQUE

Of course, I always save the best for last. As usual, my obsession with Topshop and Topshop Unique remains untouchable because nothing says London more than this cult favourite brand. Though I could not get enough of the shearling coats, printed mini dresses, and leather accents, my favourite part about this show would have to be the magenta lipstick. Nothing says "I'm a woman with an attitude" like a bold lip colour that adds some extra personality to your outfit. This 80s-inspired beauty look did just that. On another note, half the collection consisted of oversized pieces, such as sweaters, pants, and bulky coats full of fluff that I just wanted to throw on to keep warm in the winter while also looking drop-dead-glamourous. This collection was exactly what London is about: breaking every rule in favour of bigger and bolder prints, a bit of transparency, and a few ill-fitted pieces that somehow still manage to look sexy.

FAVOURITE LOOK: 5

via vogue.com

While I shed a tear for London and wish I were there, it's now time to move on to Milan. But first, let me know which shows were your favourite in this rock n' roll city.

Ponder it,

Bella

Let's Talk London

London is all about a certain street attitude that never tries too hard. After leaving those glamorous streets of New York, we're taken into a realm of urban London, where florals reign supreme, transparency is ALWAYS an option, and sneakers are the shoe of choice. London is one of my favourite cities. I wrote a blog post about how much I love it (see here). It's a city of fashion icons like Kate Moss, Cara Delevingne, and Victoria Beckham. It's where rock n' roll was born and the youth quake of the 1960s surfaced. Brits are the epitome of cool, but not in the same way as the Parisians. They're often a little grungier and less put together. Sometimes, they capture a certain sophistication without even trying, and at others, they're a hot mess. During Fashion Week, there was a blend of both with edgier collections by Tom Ford, Topshop Unique, and Osman, and more feminine ones by Erdem, Christopher Kane, and Antonio Berardi. Pick your poison. Here is mine.

BURBERRY PRORSUM

Chrispher Bailey does it again with renewed forms of the classic trench and a selection of looks inspired by "The Birds and the Bees". Imagine a combination of floral prints and feathers and ruched or tiered tulle dresses with cropped denim jackets. It was London to the T. The girls walked down the runway in the new shoe of the moment: the sneaker. Bailey proved that a sneaker is not necessarily for sporty girls alone, but for those with a penchant for flirty dresses as well. A sash at the waist was the signature item in many of the looks and added some flavour to the collection. Perfect for that playful London girl who doesn't believe in rules, but simply wants to feel comfortable and chic simultaneously. It felt like Burberry with a modern flair inspired by top model, Cara Delevingne.

Favourite Look: 44

Jourdan Dunn rocked this look like no other. That cropped purple jacket was a unique accent that only enhanced the sheer pastel pink dress, creating the perfect juxtaposition of sporty and chic.

FELDER FELDER

Felder Felder was a little edgier than Burberry this season with metallic skirts and coloured leather sets. Inspired by a 1960s aesthetic, the collection felt very a propos with the current mindset of today's youth, eager to revive the rock n' roll era. A mix of crop tops and animal printed blouses dominated the runways, giving it a bolder touch. The cowboy boots hinted at the possibility of a new trend emerging, but who knows whether that one will grab. Fringe was another popular look at London Fashion Week. I'm sensing a country girl theme with a bit of a bad girl streak. What do you think?

Favourite Look: 11

This look just oozes cool vibes. From the round sunglasses to the fringe leather jacket to the leopard print high-waisted turquoise pants, I'm dying for this look. It screams "don't mess with me" and that's a message I definitely concur with.

JULIEN MACDONALD

Julien MacDonald was all about the bold prints this season. He may have presented classic work appropriate dresses, but each one had a unique design that gave them that wow factor. Once again, transparency was a dominant theme in all shapes and forms, adding illusion to the various looks. There were geometric shapes to tease the eye and abstract floral prints. A surprising element in the collection was the insertion of frills on some dresses and one-piece swimwear. Between the frills and the lace, the collection was very feminine and sensual as a whole. It all came to a close with an intricate white wedding dress that left us oohing and ahing. It was a lovely way to end the show.

Favourite Look: 18

This baby doll dress was my favourite because of the unique details at the top. I love that strong sense of feminine innocence that it evokes and it makes me think of happy little girls who haven't yet faced the woes of real life.

DAVID KOMA

David Koma is always a favourite of mine during London Fashion Week because he consistently combines everything that I love in one collection. With pretty shorts sets, asymmetrical hems, and leather bits, it was everything I could ever want in a wardrobe and more. A mix of white and blue with a bright yellow hue made me nostalgic for spring and those warmer days in the sun. Koma played with transparency and cutouts throughout the collection, giving it more sex appeal, while maintaining its classy feminine aura.

Favourite Look: 8
As a lover of all things black and white, this was the look I'd most love to wear. Add some asymmetry and a crop and I am sold.

TOM FORD
Tom Ford felt very Hedi Slimane for Saint Laurent with this rock n' roll collection that had us all feeling nostalgic. In this collection, the 60s met the 70s and rocked out together in sexy minis and shiny wide legged pants. Beads were placed in precarious positions on a number of dresses that gave the looks a hint of danger and of course, leather played a large roll as well. Fringe made an appearance and those notorious cutouts, because it wouldn't be rock n' roll without fringe. The hair was very "I woke up like this" a la Joan Jett just getting out of bed. My favourite part? The shoes. Can I have all of them please?

Favourite Look:19
This was a surprise look in the collection and possibly, one of the more tame ones. The cutouts on this LWD gave it that extra edge and the shoes were the perfect finishing touch to make it truly rock n' roll.

All images taken from Style.com.

What do you think of these collections? Which was your favourite from London Fashion Week?

Ponder It,

Bella