London is the week that everyone throws out expectation and wants to see fresh ideas and new talent. Many major buyers skipped the week citing the strong British pound and it's positioning between NYC and Milan. Just another side effect of the economy.


Red (pictured Giles)
Red didn't have the power it did in NYC, but some designers in London made great use of the colour. Giles is one of those collections; he created some stunning red gowns. Christoper Kane, Ashish, Jenny Packham and Luella.


Blue and Black (pictured Louis Goldin)
Blue and Black was a popular pairing across the pond also. Biba paired blue mini dresses with black detailing with the appropriate dark opaque tights,shoes and hats. Louis Goldin and her sleek, Tron influenced futuristic vision. Sinha-Stanic, Biba, Amanda Wakeley, Jens Laugesen and Richard Nicoll all used this combination for fall.


Dramatic Cuts (pictured Marios Schwab)
This was a small trend in NYC that found designers like Calvin Klein using it heavily. Other designers like Proenza Schouler and Jeremy Laing utilized cuts in a dramatic and fashion forward way. In London, Marios Schwab to it to it's limits of good taste to some and fashion nirvana to others. Giles and Ann-Sofie Back used a subtle approach; the cuts were thin and didn't overwhelm the garment. Jens Laugesen, Ana Sekularac and jean Pierre Braganza.


Collar Treatment (pictured Gareth Pugh)
Designers looked to the collar for volume and shape this season. This was perfect for Gareth Pugh, one of the most anticipated shows during London fashion week. Designers adding a dramatic collar to their collections included Aquascutum, Krystof Stronzyna, Roksanda Ilincic and Richard Nicoll.


Bows (pictured Bora Aksu)
Bows were on the smaller side and could be seen exclusively on blouses during London Fashion Week. Nathan Jenden and Richard Nicoll went big and broke the norm places the bows on the back, shoulders and waist. Many wearable blouses came out of Betty Jackson, Vivienne Westwood Red Label, Issa, Bora Aksu, Eley Kishimoto and Duro Olowu. Bows were a major trend on the London catwalks.


Tartan (pictured Vivienne Westwood red label)
Tartan got the London treatment thanks to designers like Luella, Jaeger London, Paul Costelloe, Vivienne Westwood red label, Ashish and Margaret Howell. House of Holland tartan treatment had a lot of buzz. People were talking about Agyness as the tartan bride. I don't think they had much nice to say about the collection.


Bright tights (pictured Paul Smith)
This trend has some legs and very excited for legwear in the near future. Tights were even more colourful on the London catwalks. Eley Kishimoto used a gingham print, Emma Cook used lace and Vivienne Westwood red label used stars.

images; style.com, vogue.co.uk