3 Trends We Loved From London Fashion Week

An abundance of ruffles, feathers and sparkling embellishments brought showgirl glamour to the runways. At Erdem, scores of beads, crystals and pearls shone under the lights of the Roundhouse in North London, where they adorned everything from tweed overcoats to drop-waist dresses and dramatic boudoir-style robes. The Canadian designer’s inspiration this season was ’20s American trapeze artist Barbette and portraits of the performer by Jean Cocteau. Elsewhere, Simone Rocha draped flouncy feather boas over delicate, sequin-embroidered tulle dresses and used handmade rose appliqués to trace plunging necklines, shorts and bubble skirts, while at McQueen, Seán McGirr softened the structure of sharply tailored jackets with ruffled plissé mini skirts.

Wear now: Channel the mood with Valentino Garavani’s feather-trimmed velvet wrap or Simone Rocha’s pearl-embellished lace midi dress. Alternatively, zhuzh up everyday denim or tailoring with Dries Van Noten’s embroidered top-handle bag.

Eveningwear and practical layers proved to be an unexpected power pairing this season. Rose-appliquéd track jackets and raincoats were zipped up over lace- and feather-trimmed dresses at Simone Rocha, adding a sense of irreverence to hyper-feminine silhouettes. Meanwhile, voluminous parachute jackets with military-style epaulets and floral-print funnel necks designed in collaboration with Barbour stole the show at Erdem, both styled with crystal-encrusted hot pants and button-down knits. Burberry took a similar approach, layering shawl-collar jackets, trench coats and technical shell windbreakers with heavily embellished party dresses. The joyful wildflower embroideries and windowpane checks decorating several of the looks were designed by legendary British textile designer Celia Birtwell.

Wear now: Balance the prettiness of Simone Rocha’s slip dress with Jil Sander’s tomato-red shell utility jacket, or try styling Balenciaga’s track jacket with Tove’s ‘Renaud’ fil-coupé skirt.

Intricate embroidery, opulent brocades and tactile fringing emerged as defining elements across several collections, adding a sense of depth and tactility to languid silhouettes. At Kallmeyer, beaded, tinsel-like trims shimmied across sheer skirts and dresses, while at Anna Sui, iridescent beads, sequins and delicate appliquéd lace made every look feel like a treasured heirloom. Elsewhere, Ralph Lauren Collection explored antique textiles and elements of historical dress through a modern lens; Conner Ives incorporated chinoiserie-inspired florals on dresses and Art Nouveau-coded, faux fur-trimmed jackets; and Heirlome’s Stephanie Suberville spotlighted Latin American artisanship with tassels, fringing and intricate knitting techniques.

Wear now: Heirlome’s tassel-trimmed ‘Matilde’ jacket and Dries Van Noten’s intricately embroidered tote are an elegant pairing with either tailored pants or jeans, while Erdem + Barbour’s embellished waxed cotton-jacquard coat makes an impactful statement.

From vibrant jewel tones to neon brights, color saturated the runways. Conner Ives and Altuzarra both opted for color-pop separates in tomato red, bright pink, turquoise and lime green, creating eye-catching looks that commanded attention. Meanwhile, Tory Burch and Kallmeyer championed head-to-toe color blocking, showcasing vibrant jewel hues ranging from teal and amethyst at Burch to eggplant, raspberry and citrine at Kallmeyer.

Wear now: Make an impact in Balmain’s open-back mini dress in draped chartreuse satin with black accessories, or add a pop of color to pared-back outfits with Alaïa’s purple suede ‘Le Teckel’ bag.