Lako Bukia AW11 collection taking the bullet at London Fashion Week

Lako Bukia’s collection titled ‘Choxa’ took inspiration from the Georgian (her home country) National Ballet men’s costume of the same name, for both the fit and colours.

Bukia emulates the Choxa long jacket’s cinched in waist and full skirt style on to some of her dresses, using lots of leather...

although she still keeps her much loved floaty chiffon styles. 

To decorate a traditional choxa, lots of ammunition is used one being a row of bullet tube pockets across the chest. Bukia reduces the row and adds to feminine diaphanous blouses which are balanced out with strips of leather on collars or shoulders.

 One of her key pieces: was a black jumpsuit with leather shorts and chiffon top embellished with the bullet tube pockets.

She takes the bullet on other pieces a step further by adding to the side of waists,

as belts and trimming the tops of her knee length boots.

They also trimmed her signature shoes

The traditional coax colours of black, white, grey and wine red were used giving a clean palette.

However she mixed it up with the more autumnal shades of dark and mid tone browns,

camels,

rose beige 

and a few pale pastels which she used for her chiffons to bring a more feminine feel to the darker masculine leathers and bullets.

The last 2 dresses were of chiffon and embellished with large gold sequins

with the finale dress looking quite warrior queen with its chainmail of gold.

Her signature chunky triangular heels, both in plain and in two tone colours, were nearly upstaged by the chunky 4 bullet leather heel, but I think that style was only for this season – a pity as they were stunning.

Corrie Nielsen AW11 collection at London Fashion Week

Titled ‘A Winter’s Melodie’, this collection’s inspiration was drawn from two different periods

– the Elizabethan period and the 1940-50’s French Haute Couture.

The deep rich colours of amethyst, burgundy, gunmetal grey, purples, navy with pale gold formed the colour palette inspired by the colours of the oil paintings of the English, French and Flemish aristocracy of the Elizabethan period.

Blanket like wraps were layered over skirts and trousers or draped asymmetrically over wool day dresses and blouses, giving a Celtic feel. 

The knee length pencil skirts and dresses were more inspired by the haute couture with their clean lines skimming over the female form. 

Mixing both periods were the full length black wool coat with its clean simple lines and collar  teamed with a semi hooped skirt half and  the dark rust satin cocktail dress with its cinched in waist and pencil skirt of the haute couture period teamed with the flat fronted corset of the Elizabethan period and gold front bustle.

Then the real drama appeared in the guise of a Sir Walter Raleigh style puff ball cape in silk metallic green

, a pale gold silk gown with semi hooped skirt and flat stiff bodice ...

....with the finale dress looking regal with its oversized puffed ruff collar and long train. 

Bianca SS11 collection

Bianca’s SS11 collection is classic chic, combining tailored pieces with jeans.

The colour palette also keeps to the classics with basic black, navy and charcoal contrasting with  neutral  taupe, beige and nude.

Loving the rolled up tailored trousers with the matching boyfriend style suit jacket.

And for a more casual look wear the same jacket with stonewashed jeans with a rolled up finish and an oversized white t-shirt.

Another dress down look  is slouchy indigo jeans with a grey jersey boyfriend blazer, accessorised with a blue pashmina.

Weekend wear comes in a grey toned asymetric striped top and grey denim jeans, accessorised with a grey pashmina.

Bored with wearing your jeans? Then try these grey animal print ones.  Here they are teamed with a grey t-shirt and fitted long cardigan with oversized pocket detailing - no need for a handbag then!

Or go for their beige chino-esque style trousers with panel detailing - great for elongating the legs.They make good work wear when teamed with a crisp white shirt ,plus the mushroom leather jacket adds a touch of biker chic.

And last but not least this brown jacket with waterfall lapels brings tailored chic to taupe staight leg trousers and printed jersey top.

Omar Mansoor Spring/Summer 2011 collection

Omar Mansoor specialises in long elegant evening gowns and his spring/summer 2011 collection is no exception.

This collection is named after Terence Rattigan’s ‘After the Dance’ – a play whose central characters have spent years in a round of endless hedonism in the 20s, refusing to discuss anything serious because it is such a “bore".

Mansoor’s designs reflect the glamour and drama of this era with embellishments of Swarovskis and thread work on draped chiffons and silks in

silver grey, ...

...dusty pink,...

.....wine and ..

....midnight blue.

 The long gowns ooze elegance and sophistication with their delicate detailing and lavish draping,..

...whilst the knee length floaty cocktail dresses have a flirtier look allowing you to dance the night away.
Photographer: Shahid Malik

KRYSTOF STROZYNA Spring/Summer 2011 collection at London Fashion Week

Lots of lace as.....

high waist wide legged pants,

maxis

and short dresses,

but also as panelling in body con short dresses and lace fitted leg warmers.
Main colour palette is muted beige

with accents of neon violet,

mint green

and fuchsia pink in chiffon drapes, panelling,

animal prints

and tropical flower prints.