London Top Three Spring 2008 Collections

Matthew Williamson's spring show told the story of a stylish nomad woman traveling around the world while keeping her cool, urban appeal. Ethnic details such as Indian beads and pearls, Mayan patterns or African raffia trim came along with more urban pieces: shorts and trenches in neutrals, safari metallic Bermuda pants or striped blazers. The end of the show brought beautiful, ruffled georgette party dresses.

Matthew Williamson

The designing team at Aquascutum accomplished a surprisingly feminine, delightful collection. After the classic gray mac, beautiful dresses and softer tailored pieces began to show up on the runway. Fitted shifts and asymmetric jersey dresses gave a new sense of youthfulness and simplicity for Aquascutum while luxe details like hand-drawn rose prints on dresses, capes and trenches and silver or multicolored embroideries based on abstract paisley print recovered the label's name for quality and workmanship.

Aquascutum

I’ve watched Erdem Moralioglu’s collections since his debut (this is his fourth) and I have to say I’m crazy about those ingenious combinations, pleats and appliqués and the pretty soft palette. Spring 2008 collection also saw some men inspired clothes like pinstripe trousers or a bubble-backed mac teamed with a ruffled top and a cocktail little dress. Erdem uses custom-made, beautiful fabrics, taffetas, silks, and weaves, and computer processed botanical prints. The fan-pleating swinging shapes are designer’s signature pieces and also my favorites.

Erdem