London Fashion Week A/W12 trend round up

As London Fashion Week comes to a close, we take a look at the key trends to hit the capital for the coming season.

Beginning with outerwear, fur returned as a winter staple as designers Matthew Williamson, Moschino Cheap & Chic and Mulberry sent models down the London catwalks in shaggy, colourful and dyed fur coats.

Favouring classic colours such as black and brown, Mulberry’s shaggy coats looked uber warm and cosy.

While Matthew Williamson and Moschino Cheap & Chic, who moved from the Milan catwalks to debut at London Fashion Week this season, both opted for bright, candy coloured dyed circular fur finishes on soft coats.

Paying homage to traditional English style, designers Daks, Erdem, Jasper Conran and Paul Smith embraced elements of the British countryside incorporating tweed into their designs.

Daks autumnal tweed checked coat was particularly noticeable as too was Paul Smith’s textured brown oversized tailored version.

Erdem who played with the winter fabric, produced colourful purple designs – a welcome move from his signature embroidered pieces.

[Related story: Hair and beauty trends at London Fashion Week A/W12]

Jasper Conran and Burberry honed office chic, the former in the form of grey tweed twin suits and the later showcasing detailed pencil skirts complete with flat caps.

Tartan and check re-surfaced as a key trend for Autumn/Winter with Clements Ribeiro, Corrie Nielsen and Vivienne Westwood amongst others doing the Highland fling. 

Corrie, favoured classic red Scottish tartan while both Clements and Vivienne Westwood’s Red Label saw tones of blue check.

Shiny leather is a noticeable trend for next season too with the likes of Acne, Aquascutum and Emilio de la Morena introducing the material on key separates such as midi skirt and cigarette trousers.

Jazzy prints will also be brightening up the all black winter wardrobe, as seen at House of Holland in the form of striped colourful knits and on Holly Fulton’s beautiful turquoise and pink silk designs.

Military re-emerged as a key trend for the coming season as Alexander McQ’s collection adopted 1940s army uniforms and Topshop Unique honed the khaki military trench complete with military hat, belt and lace up black boots.

Pringle of Scotland too had an element of military, producing slate grey suits complete with military pockets.

Luxe printed and embroidered evening wear shone through with Christopher Kane, Giles, Jonathan Saunders, Nicole Farhi, Osman and Temperley London sporting the trend.

Rich colours, such as emerald, bronze and Bordeaux marked the evening colour palette with oriental embroidered trouser suits and dresses as seen at Osman and Jonathan Saunders while renaissance ball gowns were the piece de resistance at Giles.

Nicole Farhi and Temperley both honed shiny bronze. Nicole added extra sparkle to eveningwear with hammered metallic embellishment on long sleeve belted dresses.