Furry jackets, feminity stalk London's catwalks

LONDON-Reuters

Designer Westwood walks with her models after the presentation of her Vivienne Westwood Red Label 2012 Autumn/Winter collection at London Fashion Week. Reuters photo

Designers Vivienne Westwood, Paul Smith and Matthew Williamson led the fashion pack on the catwalks in London late on Feb. 19, mixing the baggy and bright with muted colours and tailored elegance for the feminine form.

The grande dame of eclectic British fashion, Westwood showcased tribal print designs of bright oranges, military camouflage greens and yellows. Models adorned with tattoos and dressed in baggy jodphur-like trousers strutted on a long looping catwalk at day three of London Fashion Week.

“The Red Label collection I’ve been doing the longest, and all my collections but especially this one, are always very British. You have got these really fantastic clothes that are really very flattering and also very lively because it’s got all this influence from other places,” Westwood told Reuters.

Smith showcased a subtle collection of sharp tailored pieces in muted violet, forest green and teal colours, that mixed tweed and woollen jackets with soft velvet trousers and colour-panelled cashmere sweaters.

“I wanted to do things I felt very comfortable with. And what I feel comfortable with and what a lot of people know me for is my tailoring and without being swell-headed, that’s what I feel I’m good at,” the designer told Reuters.

Luxury accessories label Mulberry attracted U.S. Vogue Editor Anna Wintour, actresses Michelle Williams and Elizabeth Olsen and American socialite Olivia Palermo to show inspired by Maurice Sendak’s book “Where The Wild Thing Are.”

Giant furry jackets, dogs on the catwalk and brightly colored handbags accompanied the announcement of its latest signature handbag: the Del Ray, inspired by singer Lana Del Ray, who was on hand.

Williamson delivered long flowing gowns with decorative patterns and jewelled embellishments at a show also packed with the fashion world’s top insiders.

The designer told Reuters that his collection was based on a Russian artefacts theme, which relied on ornate detail to make the dresses work.