I wore… Jacket: All Saints, shirt: H&M, skirt: American Apparel socks: Cos, shoes: Tods, bag: Marc Jacobs, hat: Topshop

The lovely Maria Grachvogel was celebrating the launch of her fantastic new Flagship store yesterday evening so after finishing up at Somerset House I decided to stop by for a drink on my way home. The plan was to say a quick hello, congratulate Maria on a stunning collection and be tucked up in bed by 11. Inevitably after a glass of bubbly all good intentions went straight out the window and I found myself hobbling home in the early hours. Suffice to say I wasn’t exactly at my best this morning and found myself sprinting, Starbucks in hand to Somerset House cursing my total lack of self control. But it seemed that luck was on my side and for once fashion’s lack of timekeeping worked in my favour. I arrived at the Ashish show just in time to spot a bejewelled Paloma Faith taking her seat on the FROW.

Paloma Faith at Ashish

Ashish is always a London Fashion Week ‘must-see’ and this season was certainly no exception. The show begun with the sound of church bells before exploding into a riot of super brights and sequins. Florals are always big news come Springtime but this was a garden unlike any we’ve seen before. For SS12, nature will be going glam, or at least if Ashish has anything to do with it. Daisys, sunflowers and hot house blooms were all given the sequin treatment and the designer styled his high fashion farm girls with loose side plaits, straw hats and flower cuttings. Bedazzled animal prints and clashing colours were combined with slouchy shapes, bomber jackets and Doc Martens for a collection that should have been a crime against fashion but somehow left us all wanting more.

Ashish SS12

Ashish SS12

After a brief visit to my favourite lunch spot (twice daily itsu trips are a non-negotiable part of my fashion week schedule) it was time to head back to Somerset House for my second show of the day, Jasper Conran. The FROW was packed with industry legends including Suzie Mekes, Hamish Bowles, Jasmine Guinness and Hilary Alexander. A beautiful, melodious soundtrack provided the perfect accompaniement to a collection that was the very epitome of contemporary elegance. Jasper may have been designing since 1979 but his SS12 offerings were proof that this is a man who is not prepared to rest on his laurels. The aesthetic was low key luxe at it’s best featuring clean lines, minimal detailing and immaculate cuts. It appears a new wave of minimalism is approaching but if you think that sounds boring, think again. Jasper kept things fresh with thigh-high slits, mesh detailing and navel-grazing necklines whilst matching headbands and racer backs gave the collection a sleek, sporty feel. A predominantly neutral palette gave way to eye-watering shades of crimson and hot pink confirming that just when we thought we had Jasper all figured out he can take us by surprise once more.

Jasper Conran SS12

Jasper Conran SS12

From my experiences in New York I have deducted that the more famous fashion faces there are on the FROW, the later a show will start. With that in mind it came as no surprise that Jaeger London ran more than a little behind schedule. This was clearly one of the hottest tickets in town and Olivia Palermo, Jade Williams (AKA Sunday Girl), Laura Bailey and Donna Air pitched up causing a mass exodus of paparrazi to the venue.

Jade Williams & Zara Martin

Oliva Palermo

If city chic summer staples sound like your cup of tea then look no further than Jaeger London who’s 70′s inspired collection could not have been more deserving of it’s A-list attendees. Think chiffon pleats, cropped jackets, delicate detailing and super cute collars galore. Retro print blouses, demure lace dresses and trim tailored shorts suits were all on the menu in a delectable palette pastel shades, rich browns and bold, summer-ready hues. Ok, so it wasn’t pushing any boundaries but when the clothes are this covetable who gives a damn about making a statement?

Jaeger London SS12

Jaeger London SS12

By this point what had started out a glorious Autumn morning turned into a very grey afternoon. Jet lag (and maybe a hint of hangover) had well and truly kicked so I made yet another Starbucks stop to replenish my caffeine levels before heading over to my last show of the day, John Rocha.

John Rocha SS12

John Rocha SS12

One word, wow. The show opened with a succession of incredible gothic creations before moving into equally breathtaking nude hues and stark whites. John’s trademark texture play reached new levels this season combining weaved cotton, leather, sheer chiffon, crochet, feathers, shearling and just about every other material you can think of. Voluminous, sculpted shapes were interspersed with slender draped silhouettes, asymmetrical pleats and sleek tailoring whilst dramatic headpieces gave the collection an almost primal feel. Experimental, artstic and always inspiring John Rocha’s collections never fail to amaze and this seasons’ show brought the house down.

Love Ella. X