4 min readOnly at London Fashion Week would you see a king at a runway show. The week began with King Charles himself in the audience at Tolu Coker, kicking off a range of shows packed with inspiring moments. There were so many styling tricks and pieces that I want to try immediately—or at least recreate at home.
Major designers Conner Ives, Simone Rocha, and Daniel Lee at Burberry all offered balancing tentpoles to the week, from the glamorous scarf dressing at Conner Ives to Simone Rocha’s whimsical sportswear, which included a collaboration with Adidas, to the evolved heritage pieces at Burberry. The newcomers were strong, too. As always, the Fashion East runway show hosted three emerging designers, including TraiCeline Pratt, a Phoebe Philo alum whose Goyagoma label stood out for his beautiful interpretation of elevated evening wear. There were also big milestones to celebrate, from Erdem’s 20th anniversary to Joseph’s return to the runway after 10 years with a new creative director, Mario Arena.
This February marks Laura Weir’s second season as British Fashion Council CEO, and her dedication to changing the trajectory of London Fashion Week is clear. At the week’s opening breakfast, she said of her new strategy, “It will put designers first, and it will define the ecosystem required to support British fashion not just for a season, but for the future.”
The schedule was robust, and brands both established and new showed collections that felt extra desirable. From Emilia Wickstead and her polished new ways of styling denim to Talia Loubaton, who presented a Liberowe collection of beautifully classic jackets and dresses with a modern twist, there was a little bit of everything on offer.
Below, I outline my favorite trends, styling points, and key pieces from London Fashion Week to shop now.
British Flair
from top left clockwise: Conner Ives, Keburia, Chopova Lowena, J.W. Anderson, Erdem, and Burberry
There’s nothing I love more than when designers lean all the way into their heritage. From the argyle socks at Chopova Lowena to the dazzling barn jackets at Erdem (perfect for an English countryside look!), these uniquely British pieces can easily be incorporated into your wardrobe, either together or as individual statement pieces.
Burberry Geranium Leaf Quilted Nylon Floriston Jacket
Purdey Tweed Shooting Breeks With Storm Cuff
Ralph Lauren Argyle Cotton-Blend Trouser Sock 3-Pack
Nili Lotan Betsy Wool Jacket
Updated Evening
from top left clockwise: Duro Olowu, Conner Ives, Joseph, Toga, (pre-show selfie in Liberowe!), Goyagoma
The chicest new approach to evening is to wear unexpected silhouettes in sophisticated materials—like TraiCeline Pratt’s shearling polo t-shirt at Goyagoma, Joseph’s leather shorts, or the elongated evening jacket from Liberowe. (I was lucky enough to take that last one out for a spin; I paired it with straight-leg beige jeans.) These pieces are just as cool when worn during the day, and will unlock a whole new range of day-to-night ideas for the office.
Carolyn Rowan Floral Appliqué Silk Cape
The Frankie Shop Melker Furry Pants – Off White
Liberowe Velvet-Trimmed Wool Coat
Babaton Element Tube Top – (Re)ssential
J.Crew Pleated Trouser Short in Leather
The New Sport
from top left clockwise: Maximilian, (center) Jacek Gleba at Fashion East, Conner Ives, Simone Rocha, and Selasi
From nostalgic Gola bags at Maximilian Raynor to striped Adidas t-shirts at Simone Rocha, athletic details were incorporated seamlessly throughout the collections. Try using a numbered tank top to anchor a head-to-toe athletic look for day, or wear it as a going-out top at night paired with leather pants and a sleek blazer.
Rowing Blazers Babar Cotton Rugby Green
Gola Classics Redford Messenger Bag
Adidas Originals + Wales Bonner Cali Striped Cotton-Jersey T-shirt
Adidas by Stella McCartney Sportswear 76 Sneakers
Soft Feels™ Clubhouse Jersey Cotton Jersey Varsity T-shirt
Daring Denim
from top left clockwise: Erdem, Emilia Wickstead, Toga, Conner Ives, and Emilia Wickstead
The denim on the runway felt updated and edgy. Toga gave us a new spin on the three-piece suit with a raw denim shirt, a furry-collared jacket, and pants, while Emilia Wickstead made the case for adding an extra denim shirt to an already-layered three-piece suit look.
Agolde Low Slung Baggy Mid-Rise Wide-Leg Jeans
Acne Studios Trompe l’oeil Printed High-Rise Wide-Leg Jeans
Ralph Lauren Slim Fit Denim Shirt
Tory Burch Printed High-Rise Straight-Leg Jeans
Brooches & Baubles
from top left clockwise: Liberowe, Labrum London, Erdem, Richard Quinn, Chopova Lowena, Simone Rocha, and Toga
Last season, brooches were everywhere. This time around, they continued to be the thing holding together all of the collections (pun intended!). But we also saw all sorts of other forms of ladylike embellishments adding glamour to otherwise simple dresses and jackets—a continuation of one of our favorite trends from New York. One winning approach was the award ribbons at Simone Rocha, which added color and texture to an otherwise simple suit.
Ben Amun Double Chain Coin Brooch
Sandy Liang Mini I Love You Brooch
Sunset Magic Studio Big Floral Red Brooch
Kenneth Jay Lane Black Dotted White Enamel Snail Shell Pin
Sita Nevado Jacinta Brooch
Here Comes the Bride
from top left clockwise: Harris Reed, Bora Aksu, Harris Reed, and Simone Rocha
Walking down the runway like it’s the aisle was more prevalent than ever. Harris Reed showed three bridal looks with varying-color veils for a new take on the modern bride. Simone Rocha’s lace skirt with satin kitten-heel mules seemed like the perfect non-wedding wedding look for the big day. (It would be just as nice for a rehearsal dinner!) All around, new directional silhouettes and romantic fabrics offered fresh updates to classic bridal looks.
Altuzarra Draped Broderie Anglaise-Trimmed Silk-Satin Midi Dress
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Missoni Sequin-Embellished Metallic Crochet-Knit Wide-Leg Pants
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Jimmy Choo Skye Stiletto Slide Sandals
Fringe, Feathers, and Frills
from top left clockwise: Erdem, Harris Reed, Liberowe, Toga, Liberowe, and Burberry
Everyday pieces were updated to make a statement with movement, from feathered coats and shoes at Erdem to furry cuffs at Toga to a classic trench with a ruffled neckline at Burberry. These show-stopping separates can add a spark of joy to any look, whether you wear a top with feathered sleeves with a pair of jeans and flats to the office, or a furry sandal with a simple pencil skirt and t-shirt for a night out.
Liberowe Fuchsia Banker Jacket
A.L.C. Wilda Feather-Trim Crewneck Sweater
Retrofete Arina Ruffled Silk Halter Dress
Proenza Schouler Tee Thong Feather Sandal
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Hand-Held Classics Mixed with Florals
from top left clockwise: Simone Rocha, Emilia Wickstead, Duro Olowu, and Conner Ives
In New York, we were obsessed with the way some of the models at Kallmeyer were holding their gloves in the same hand as their bags. It looked so ladylike, yet still relaxed. In London, we saw something similar, but this time it was models clad in florals and holding oversized preppy sweaters and coats—an effortlessly cool update to tying a sweater around your neck or waist.
The Row Loneke Cable Knit Crewneck Cardigan
Loewe Floral Printed Mesh Tube Long Sleeve Midi Dress
Magda Butrym Floral Scarf-Detail Midi Dress
