Having spending most of last night somewhere over the Atlantic I felt none too fresh when we landed at Heathrow at 6am this morning. Ordinarily I would have retreated to the comfort of my sofa and embarked on a marathon Gossip Girl session but that was not to be for today is no ordinary day. Yes, at long last Fashion Week has arrived in London so there was certainly no time to relax. After a brief pitstop at home to take a much-needed shower, wolf down a bowl of porridge and grab my tickets I was off to Somerset House to join my fellow fashion lovers in our bi-annual celebration of all things stylish.

Jacket: All Saints Blouse & Bag: Whistles Skirt: Urban Outfitters Socks: Cos Shoes: Topshop Nicklace: Anne Bowes Jewellery

First show of the day was Maria Grachvogel and she certainly got things off to a cracking start. On the FROW was Brik Smith Start and Hilary Alexander looking every inch the fashion doyenne in black lace and leopard print converse.

Hilary Alexander

Like last season, Maria’s show was held in the majestic surroundings of The Savoy Hotel, the perfect setting for a collection that simply exuded effortless elegance. Simple shapes, flowing hemlines and delicious drapery was the name of the game in super sleek silks and sheer chiffon. For SS12 Maria offered up mezmerising watercolour prints combined with stark whites, delicate nudes and injections of acid green and bright coral. The collection was a true testament to the power of a perfect cut and Maria’s red carpet worthy frocks proved that you don’t need piles of bling to be glamourous. Anyone who’s gone to town with this seasons’ snakeskin trend will be happy to hear it will be sticking around come Spring. The jumpsuit mania I saw in New York appears to have followed me home and Maria showed of a particularly gorgeous green number. Maria Grachvogel will be launching her first flagship store this very evening and judging from what I saw this afternoon, she’s set to sell out pretty quickly.

Then it was time to make a high speed dash back to Somerset House for the Jean-Pierre Braganza show. On the FROW were the Vogue editorial team and BFC Chairman, Harold Tillman looking dapper as ever in an immaculate pale grey suit. The collection was every bit as strong as last season’s lot but this time Jean-Pierre’s avant guard style felt rather more grown up than what we’ve seen before. The designer combined fluid silks and delicate chiffon with super structured jackets and seriously sharp shoulders giving his looks a faintly futuristic feel. Cocoon silhouettes and dropped waists were updated for 2012 with subtle studding, cut away detailing and mesh inserts, disproving once and for all the myth that high fashion can’t be seductive. Striking graphic prints in neutral hues and bold monochrome looks gave way to splashes of colour and Jean-Pierre cemented his status as ‘one to watch’ with an eye-popping coral finale.

Jean-Pierre Braganza SS12

Jean-Pierre Braganza SS12

By this point jet-lag had set in and I struggled to resist the temptation to call it a day and head home. I settled for a swift trip to Starbucks and with my caffeine levels replenished made my down the Strand for show number four, Teatum Jones. It appears that watercolour prints will be de rigeur come Spring and Teatum Jones went for a kalaidescope of beautiful pastel hues. The show was dreamlike with the dewy skinned, etheral models clad in billowing silk confections. Overall an angelic and oh-so-feminine collection set in a wonderfully intimate venue. Top marks for the limitless supply of dry martini’s too!

Teatum Jones SS12

Last but certainly not least was PPQ. The venue was packed fit to burst with London’s fashion elite and my aching feet were soon forgotten. The show was a very late starter but it was oh-so-worth the wait. Designers Amy Molyneux and Peter Parker are certainly not afraid to stand out from the crowd and this seasons’ offerings featured in-your-face prints, diamante applique detailing and seriously blingtastic accessories. It felt as though the designers had drawn inspiration from the 50′s, 90′s and just about every decade in between. Think Mad Men meets Fresh Prince of Bel Air meets Wild Wild West! All on all a theatrical, unapologetic collection and the perfect finale to London Fashion Week Day 1.

PPQ SS12

PPQ SS12

Love Ella. X