The number of buyers, journalists and photographers at London Fashion Week is expected to reach 2,500 during its five-day run. Yesterday, the second day of the event, saw the crowds swell visibly as increased numbers of the fashion pack flew in from the autumn/winter 2000 shows in New York. Despite grey skies over the fashion week tents in South Kensington, there was plenty of colour to brighten the day.
In the morning, African model Alex Wek set the scene when she strode down the catwalk in a shocking pink sheepskin coat and a pair of tan Fair Isle hotpants by Liberty.
This was a show for the young at heart and the lean of limb. Shorts were very short and the oversized stripy Mongolian wool shopping bags would cause many a raised eyebrow. But in among all these playfully extreme pieces there was a lot that was wearable, including skirts and dresses in jewel-like prints, a dark peach trench coat and an iridescent black dress that showed a cheeky glimpse of blue lining.
With hats by Philip Treacy, shoes by Jimmy Choo and hair by Sam McKnight, the Liberty show had all the right credentials, including a stunning final piece featuring a gold corset by cult designer Mr Pearl. Next up was Dai Rees, who showed an organic collection in Baden Powell House in South Kensington. His models wore leather headpieces embossed with Celtic symbols which were echoed in the designs knitted into the drop-sleeved jackets and cream wool coats.
The colours here were muted with plenty of russet, chocolate, cream, pale leaf-green and violet. For his finale Rees sent out two models wearing a wrap and a kilt in stiff, moulded and embossed leather teamed with white trousers and a diaphanous blouse. Ben de Lisi is traditionally strong on evening wear and this collection was no exception, with plenty of spaghetti straps, pale blue chiffon, sparkling wine-coloured lame and Empire line gowns.
However, this collection also offered some funky daywear. Coats, skirts and dresses came in pillar-box red quilting, while a pastel floral print was incorporated into a trench coat and some slim cigar pants. With nine shows in seven venues it was a busy day, ending with a key show by Mathew Williamstown down at Chelsea Bridge Wharf in south-west London.