London Fashion Week: Orla Kiely

Irish designer Orla Kiely likes to take us on an adventure, whether it’s camping with the Girl Guides or exploring her garden. It’s not just a flair for print that she’s known for, it’s a jolly good presentation too.

With the brand’s 20-year anniversary coming up this year, we had high hopes when our library card invites arrived in the post. And on arrival, her ‘All Quiet in the Library’ theme certainly didn’t disappoint.

Renowned for her nostalgic collections, Kiely continued SS15’s Seventies revival with a muted palette, heritage fabrics and more of her iconic prints. Known more for her wearability than innovation, cute co-ords, colour-block knits and prim dresses made up this season’s library attire.

To a soundtrack of Björk (‘It’s Oh So Quiet’, naturally), hushed tones of approval certainly greeted AW15’s structured leather bags, check print dresses and belted coats. As the models browsed the mathematics aisle in their mini skirts, cashmere layers and Peter Pan collars, our inner schoolgirl ached for Kiely to design a uniform. She even makes grey tights look good!

With her flair for accessories, her fourth collaboration with high street shoe shop Clarks was also her best yet. Sign us up for a pair of the metallic T-bar heels right after Book Club please.

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