Graduate fashion week: Top 10 - in pictures

The Birmingham City University crowd seemed to be going with their animal instincts. Paris Hawkins-Carr's taxidermy created a showstopping spectacle (bottom and right), along with Rachel Cogley's fur-and-hair creations (top) and an Isla Skelton collection featuring rubber ducks (not pictured) Photograph: Rachel Hannaway; catwalking.com

A Middle Eastern twist at the Liverpool John Moores show. Intricate embellishments gave Ash Kabir's six-piece menswear and womenswear collection an air of luxury Photograph: Rachel Hannaway

At the Manchester School of Art the details were what mattered. Jo Mandle's handmade harlequin mask stood out, as did John Earnshaw's crystalline take on the metallic dress. We also fell in love with the bearded, freckled, rough-round-the-edges model who, like a lot of collections at Graduate fashion week, challenged the norm Photograph: Rachel Hannaway; catwalking.com

Wools and leathers were a dominant feature throughout the Nottingham Trent show, bringing a darker side to proceedings Photograph: Rachel Hannaway; catwalking.com

Print student Kiranjit Soji's floral collection was the eye-catching pick of the Salisbury show, a refreshingly colourful display that offered a vivid glimpse of summer trending Photograph: Rachel Hannaway

We love spotting a trend, and Graduate fashion week had a few – animals, fur and fringing being just three. Hair design was taken to new heights via the skyscraping quiffs on display at the the Nottingham, Kingston and and Northbrook shows Photograph: Rachel Hannaway

Charlie Wilson of Northumbria University ventured down a different avenue with her collection of 40s-style underwear. This change of pace was a reminder that designers often focus on more practical items Photograph: Rachel Hannaway

The fashion world often takes itself far too seriously. Giles Deacon's Pac-Man-inspired collection brought playfulness to the fore in 2008, and Colchester students seemed to be following suit with prints featuring smiley faces and cartoon ponies Photograph: Rachel Hannaway

Samantha Cooke at Liverpool John Moores's stand gave us a slightly warped insight into masks and millinery, using heat and manipulation to create these striking pieces. There's nothing wrong with beating metal – YSL did something similar in producing their amazing cocktails rings Photograph: Rachel Hannaway

Fashion isn't just about making clothes. Patrick Schmidt's entrance piece – an illustrated tent with matching deckchairs – reminded us that graphic art can bring something fresh to fashion marketing Photograph: Rachel Hannaway