The crowds at Jasper Conran's show at London Fashion Week yesterday were left wondering if they should adjust the controls on their sets as model after model sashayed down the catwalk in shades of black, white and grey.
Unlike many of the other designers showing this week, Conran chose to eliminate colour from his autumn-winter 2000 collection. It could have made for dull viewing but it didn't because Jasper Conran knows how to cut a wool suit so that it looks as if meant for a man but sexy on a woman.
There were lots of pinstripes, military-style dress trousers which came adorned with sequins, flowing white pants teamed with black leather coats and back-less fitted waistcoats.
Eveningwear figured large too with plenty of back-less dresses boasting either deep pleats or cowl necks.
Like most of the designers here this week, Conran had done a version of the tie-neck blouse in creamy white silk which he teamed with sleek black silk.
Black and white also took a leading role in the collection of newcomer designer Luella Bartley's show that took place in west London.
Although Bartley's show was not on the official schedule, the former Vogue magazine writer is hotly tipped for the future so many buyers and journalists, as well as singer Jarvis Cocker from Pulp, made the trek to catch her show.
They were rewarded by a collection that showed a lot of promising touches including some fine tailoring on striped blazers, fitted pants and dresses like extended bikers' jackets.
Bartley used two-tone black and white in tribute to the Mods, and primary brights for touches like gloves, ankle boots and pencil skirts.
Back at the fashion week tents in South Kensington, all eyes were on young designer Anthony Symonds who mixed fabrics and patterns in a way that is fast becoming his trademark.
Golfing checks were stitched up into ruched pencil skirts and halter-neck dresses and teamed with similarly patterned stilettos and ankle boots.
Symonds added picnic blanket fringes in chevron shapes to camel-coloured skirts and finished the outfit off with a sleeveless top adorned with a simple bow.
With so many patterns, textures and shapes on display it could have looked messy. But by sticking carefully with a palette of red, burgundy and black, Symonds pulled it off.