It’s not just all about the new at London Fashion Week – whereas designer’s new collections get their premier at the event, many of the styles on show are reminiscent of fashion’s rich heritage. Here, our guest blog style spotter from www.johnlewis.com picks out three women’s clothing collections that draw on glorious vintage glamour.
Margaret Howell
Margaret Howell has named Katharine Hepburn, Jane Birkin and Barbara Hepworth among those that inspire her work, the icons embodying “a style which is assured, relaxed, graceful and natural”. The British designer still gets excited by British tradition, quality and skill, all of which is apparent in her A/W12 collection, which pairs cosy knits with pleated tartan skirts and tailored shirt dresses, topped off with traditional Scottish Tam o’Shanter bonnets and loafers. Inspired by the English landscape, with a nod to the nautical, this look is more than a bit 1920s and very much in keeping with Howell’s desire to make classic, practical clothes “that are meant to be worn in the real world”.
Moschino Cheap & Chic
For its debut LFW outing, Moschino Cheap & Chic left its mark with a makeup-inspired collection imbued with 1950s powder room glamour. Delicate chiffon and prim pencil dresses boasted bold prints featuring perfume bottle, lipstick and powder palette motifs and shared the runway with powder pink prom dresses, chic drop-waist coat dresses and beaded box jackets that invoke Jackie O opulence. Putting the finishing touches to this heavily made-up look, rainbow dye furs, kitten heels and quilted and box bags set the style for next season’s must-have accessories.
Orla Kiely
Orla Kiely’s LFW presentation saw models play the role of well-dressed guests at a 1920s tea dance, set against a backdrop of the versatile designer’s trademark retro wallpaper. Yet while the Twenties’ vibe may have set the scene, the collection took its primary inspiration from the mid-century style for which the Irish designer has become renowned. From 1950s-inspired pretty prom dresses with delicate slips, through 1960s Mad Men-style prints, to early 1970s bell-sleeves and ruffle collars, this range spans some of fashion’s favourite fixations. And we wouldn’t be surprised if gold socks and T-bar shoes became a trend in itself. Feminine with an underlying sense of cool, London is swinging once more.
Shop the vintage look now at www.johnlewis.com.
All images courtesy of www.mpdclick.com
