London Fashion Week

London Fashion Week: Top Trends

London Fashion Week, which closed last Friday, swiftly climbed from one moment of high drama to another, since it was rumored that New York and Milan would ‘erase’ London from the international schedule next year. Luckily, an agreement was made. But the drama continued on the catwalks.

Here are the main Spring 09 trends from London Fashion Week. Let’s start with my favorite, and the British equivalent to Marc Jacobs. Madame Luella Bartley! —Melissa Alvarado Sierra

TOP TRENDS (from the Telegraph UK)

• Iridescence and transparency Reveal and conceal in tulle, organza and mesh; tutu-looks at Charles Anastase and Roksanda Ilincic; barely there at Jasper Conran; shimmering at Emma Cook and Nathan Jenden

• Orange, khaki, black, white, shocking pink “We’ve been tango’ed!” Designers love the Vitamin C colour (Betty Jackson), along with deep khaki (Amanda Wakeley), black and white (Giles) and Diana Vreeland’s “navy blue of India” (Richard Nicoll)

• Extreme prints Inspired by pixillation, butterflies, Monet (Farhi), kaleidoscopic florals, Copacabana

• The LWB (Little White Dress) From Issa’s broderie anglaise to Margaret Howell’s sheer shirt-waist and Giles’s sheath, it’ll be a white hot season

• All-in-ones Overalls and jumpsuits make the leap from function to fashion (Jaeger London, Goldin, Wakeley)

• Harem pants Gathered, droopy, tied at the ankle; best at Paul Smith with a French Foreign Legion/North Africa vibe and fringed scarves

• Minis There were thigh-grazers at Schwab, Kane, Temperley, Jenny Packham, Nicoll and Peter Pilotti

• Heady decorations Bee-keeper veils at Farhi, veils and bows at Luella, knotted fabrics at Danielle Scutt, Sahara Desert straws at Vivienne Westwood, metal Pac-Man helmets at Giles - get ahead, get a hat or at the very least tie a ribbon in your hair