I was really worried about seeing the Prabal Gurung show yesterday. His S/S12 collection was such a hit that expectations for his fall offerings were really high but he took the challenge in his stride and wowed us with yet another stellar performance.

Gurung has long spoken about his love of contrasts and contradictions and that was visible in the collection. The show started off in dark representing hell. The first look featured a dark but romantic black cape teamed with perfectly low slung flared trousers. A strapless dress came tamed with over-the-elbow length leather gloves, jackets came in fur or along the hemlines on coats and dresses had the sheer panels that he showed in his SS12 collection that went down well with the likes of Rooney Mara and Zoe Saldana. Stemming from his interest in spirituality and light and dark, the first part of the show featured black hats created by Phillip Treacy which were half visor and half Archbishop hat. As the show progressed, we moved into heaven with those low slung flares coming in white teamed with gold belts and statement cuffs and feathered skirts skirts also made a welcomed appearance.

Aside from the black and white and gold, Gurung also interested blue tones on the eyes and on the knitwear inspired by the blue rose from Japan. The rose print appeared on structured tops and trouser combos to the delight of buyers who were quick to lap these prints up last season. The shapes were good too. Jackets came with volumous sleeves and rounded cocoon shaped shoulders and one coat had a greenish blue oil effect on the arms and came nipped in at the waist with a skater skirt style from the waist down.