London Fashion Week was off to a sublime start on Sunday, with Paul Costelloe opening the jam-packed catwalk schedule. Inspired by “the meeting of 19th century colonialism with the African continent,” Costelloe showed floral printed harem pants, military jackets and beautiful tailored dresses for spring. Other shows that followed were by designers Charles Anastase, Topshop Unique, PPQ, Ann-Sofie Back and Peter Jensen.
The fashion pack was out in droves to see Topshop Unique, one of the most sought after shows on opening day. The collection took 50s youth culture as its inspiration, showing teddy boy blazers, giant bow-tied headscarves and stonewash denim. With pearly kings and queens logos and modish styling, it referenced the first era of the teenager, sure to be a big hit with the Hoxtonites and the young British creatives.
Elsewhere, the celebrity front-row at PPQ kept the paparazzi in high spirits. PPQ designers Percy Parker and Amy Molyneaux showed a range of dressy alternatives to their well-known American prom dress shapes, to the delight of Peaches and Pixie Geldof and Alexa Chung.