London Fashion Week: Whistles

As I sit in my Gracie jumpsuit – my Tyler jeans are in the wash – I don’t really need to be sold on Whistles. When they joined the London Fashion Week schedule earlier this year, it was certainly no surprise to me. The British Fashion Council was just confirming what I had long since suspected – that this is a British high street brand that it is about to go global.

Just ask Olivia Palermo, Caroline Issa and Hanneli Mustaparta, who were all in attendance as Whistles took over King’s Cross underground to upgrade our daily commute as part of its SS15 presentation. With the show notes promising a continuation of the ‘exploration of textures, surface and fabrics’, Whistles put its subtle stamp on sportswear, street wear…. and menswear.

With its concourse location setting the scene, this is a collection that is going places – off the shelves fast, presumably – with its muted palm prints, underwear-inspired bandeaus and espadrille platforms suggesting far-flung shores. Jumpsuits remain a constant but with new relaxed fits and plunging necklines.

Effortlessly taking you from the beach to the bar, one-shoulder swimsuits were layered under laser-cut leathers and monochrome tailoring, with a bum bag – or everyone’s favourite the Portland backpack – also slung over for good measure.

Not to be outdone, the menswear line, which launched for AW14, embraced the same chic tailoring and subtle palette – nudes, pale greys and bluebell – and proved as progressive yet pared back as the mainline collection.

It seems less is definitely more when Jane Shepherdson is involved.

London Fashion Week SS15 runs from Friday 12 to Tuesday 16 February. Stay tuned for further coverage…