London Fashion Week: Jasper Conran

If we needed reminding that it was AW15 we’d all come to see at Somerset House, Conran was happy to provide it with his seasonal staging; a carpet of brown leaves covering the usually pristine catwalk. Not that his masterclass in autumnal colours – his inspiration coming from the portraiture of Augustus John – wasn’t reminder enough. Pigment rich tones of dark navy, green and brown blended with olive, indigo, plum and cadmium yellow represented nature’s most colourful season.

As the likes of LFW regulars Laura Whitmore and Yasmin Le Bon looked on from the FROW, another LFW heavyweight showed us why his is one of the shows we always queue up early to see. With every piece as beautifully crafted and wearable as the next, more than a few mental shopping lists were being made in the BFC courtyard space.

Continuing the Seventies spirit of SS15, chevron and stripe prints fluttered over tunic dresses and bodycon cuts, while chunky cashmere knits were layered over crew necks to create the perfect head-to-toe wardrobe. Milliner Stephen Jones was also on hand to create a matching fedora or two.

But it wasn’t all mashed-up textures, cool separates and pleated detailing. Expect that relaxed silhouette to come with a smattering of embellished petals, falling from shoulders to waist, and a statement coat or two – Harrington, double breasted or parka, the collection has them all next season. A particular standout was a khaki overcoat with beautifully draped lapels and chunky, turned up sleeves. Definitely a piece we’ll see filtering onto the high street.

There’s a reason this collection is perennially one of our favourites, and it’s not just the silk georgette shirts or the cashmere. Conran wants his women to ‘walk into a room and look good’ and with this complete winter wardrobe, it’s pretty hard not to…

London Fashion Week AW15 runs from Friday 20 to Tuesday 24 February. Stay tuned for more reports…

Photos by Charlotte White