A ghostly piano playing without the pianist, quivering milk jellies nestled next to parma violet shagreen evening clutches, dancing shoes on rotating cake stands and handbags hanging from trees can only mean one thing - Anya Hindmarch. Ever the most hospitable hostess of London fashion week, Anya took over Benjamin Franklin's house at 36 Craven Street, WC2 to set up her 'House of Intrigue', serving up teatime treats and spooky fun to the fashion pack Photograph: Jo Jones/Helen Seamons
British fashion designers could never be described as shy and retiring: the London catwalks were awash with colour. Roksanda Illinic's past collections have seen pale delicate pastel hues, but this season her fall collection exploded with bright colour. Offerings from an orange evening dress to scatterings of red and vivid electric blue awoke fashion-weary eyes. Joanna Sykes debut collection for Aquascutum touched on the classics from the label - a field coat or a great trench - mixing traditional fabrics with a modern pop of colour. Orange and electric blue were scattered through the collection on an exposed seam dress, a bold orange knit and a silk graphic print smock. Michael Van Der Ham's fall collection showed stunning jewel-hued velvet dresses. The future is certainly looking very bright Photograph: Jo Jones/Helen Seamons/catwalking.com
Kane keeps us guessing every season. Last season it was fluro lace and Japanese tattoo prints, this time the colour palette took a darker turn to black dresses trimmed with undulating plastic, filled with coloured oil reminiscent of 70s lava lamps. He opened with several hand-crocheted knit looks in grey, black and sludgy green, lifted with aqua and made from 'granny squares'. Sometimes they were combined with the same Afghan blanket effect printed on to a leather top or jacket. The show closed with delicate tulle-backed translucent sequin dresses that shimmered like fish skin, and were also trimmed in the 'lava' oil plastic detail in bright pinks and oranges. It was an excellent lesson in how bad taste can look so very good in the right hands ... Photograph: Jo Jones/Helen Seamons
This week we have realised that next winter's coat needs to be the star of our wardrobes - and there were plenty to choose from in the London collections. At Burberry, Christopher Bailey showed over 30 outerwear pieces, from the classic beige trench to a full-sleeved cocoon style basket weave in black and orange. The always effortlessly stylish Acne showed a simple 3/4 length belted wool coat that stole our hearts while Jaeger ran away with the contrast trend with a fabric blocked trench and a sleeveless grey wool coat with khaki lapels, worn over a chunky camel cable knit Photograph: catwalking.com
Katrantzou's autumn show can only be described as a living work of art. Exquisite in every detail, from the prints to the silhouette, the whole collection felt very haute couture. This season Katrantzou drew one, past the interior prints showcased last season to the contents within the room itself. Prints were derived from priceless objets d'art: Fabergé eggs, Qianlong dynasty china laid perfectly across the female form in rich decadent prints. The silhouette of rounded skirts was inspired by the form of porcelain bowls and peplums over the hips imitated opened and halved Fabergé eggs. The collection left the audience speechless Photograph: Jamie Baker
Saturday night finished on a high with Jonathan Saunders. The vibrant colour palette of tomato red, royal blue, kingfisher, emerald and jade sang out. Shown either in solid colour block or in vivid prints of birds, foliage, wisteria and poppies the elegant, ladylike silhouette featured below-the-knee lengths with a split and on-the-knee pencil skirts. Jackets were belted at the waist and the dresses were also midi length. The new addition of menswear was a delight and a runaway success Photograph: PR
This week saw the much awaited opening of Roland Mouret's new flagship London store in the heart of Mayfair. Following in the footsteps of Yves Saint Laurent and Christian Dior, Mouret has achieved his dream of opening a boutique below his atelier in Carlos Place. The elegant townhouse has a classic 1970s decor and houses an eight-piece capsule collection exclusively for his London clientele. For Mouret fans this includes his three most famous dresses - the Galaxy, the Moon and the Pigalle. We suggest you get there quickly, they're sure to be a sell out - for the second time! Photograph: PR
There is something calming and beautifully understated about Howell's catwalk shows and this collection was a lesson to all in how to design a collection that would leap from the catwalk straight into your wardrobe. Howell's androgynous signature leaned towards the tomboy - masculine played against feminine, tailored masculine coats were shown with lightweight silks and floaty maxi skirts worn with dusty pink brogues all topped off with a camel fedora ... Photograph: catwalking.com
Everyone was talking about Arizona Muse but our favourite model is still Jourdan Dunn. The lass from Greenford opened the Burberry show, stormed the runway in a stunning teal suit at Giles and looked the picture of demure elegance at Jonathan Sanders. Post baby this yummy mummy is everywhere Photograph: PR
Bad scheduling was a favourite front row gripe this week, as editors traversed the postcodes of London from east to west. But a few show venues were definitely worth the effort. Burberry set up camp alongside the magnificent Albert Memorial at Kensington Park while Vivienne Westwood and Giles summoned us to the Royal Courts of Justice - quite literally in Giles' case with an invite designed like an official warrant. Venue of the week, however, went to Antonio Berardi at the Drapers' Hall, currently being seen on screen in The King's Speech. The grand interiors and stunning chandeliers were glorious - and made us feel that little bit closer to Mr Firth Photograph: Jo Jones/Helen Seamons
