It's a well known fact that British fashion editor and directors don't go to the London shows besides an appearance at Westwood, Giles or Christopher Kane. So it was a great suprise to see a full house at the Jaeger show last night.
Groups of people battled the crowds, slyly moving into the express quewe of editors and buyers, and just as quickly sent back to their spot in the bottom of the food chain by the bouncers, much to my amusement.
Tim Blanks, Alexa Chung (trying her best to cover a bad cold sore with little luck), Hilary Alexander, Jasper Conran, Erin O'Conner and Chris Eubanks (random I know) all graced the front row to see the legendary British brands fall offerings.
Nico D is all about wearability - and we love that. Chunky knits in classic shapes were styled with oversized leather bags, trilby and khaki trousers for ultimate comfort.
Tailoring was a strength of the show. Jackets, with oversized collars in satin, were boxy and structured with angular shapes at the front, drawing on Didonna's interest in geometry this season.
Evening wear was strong, tied in by a theme of sequins that adroned black turtlenecks, mens tuxedos and floor length evening gowns.
Geometric shapes was the source of inspiration for the show but was not clear in the collection. Individual looks worked well, but toverall the show lacked cohesion. The designer served us with a bit of leather and grunge, some sequins a la Ashish and some casual urban wearable looks rather than committing to one theme and seeing it through. Styling was also inconsistent, starting off very strong and losing it's punch towards the last few looks where a beautiful black knee length dress was teamed with pink fish net tights.
Remember the sugary sweet designer who put her goodies in Target a few seasons back? She's still here (and so are the bows), but with focus on Nutcracker tin soldiers and a leaning towards the structural, Erin Fetherston is showing a different side of her aesthetic.
It started with this look - pretty telling for the rest of what was to come. Many of Fetherston's pieces were jackets, whether peplum or prim and proper, paired with statement skirts and graphic tights. And check the headwear.
