Show Report

Show Report

THE theme music from Downton Abbey set the tone for Ralph Lauren's autumn/winter 2012-13 collection, held in a setting with huge crystal chandeliers.

The opening outfits were a homage to traditional British fabric craft, including tweed, Fair Isle, worsted wool and a weave named “Glen plaid”. As if the message needed reiterating we also saw plus fours, jodhpurs and cricket collars.

Well cut and draped cashmere double-breasted overcoats were elegant and a number of fitted checked trouser suits struck a chord - even the matching bowler hats looked chic. A green and blue wool trouser suit would, however, require some panache – and was better teamed with some black velvet jodhpurs and some sensational black suede pumps with gold serpent details in the heels.

A flow of beautifully-tailored black sable dresses followed a long velvet smoking robe worn with wide legged chalk-stripe flannel trousers. Many of the dresses had heavily embellished collars. A polished glove leather, black pleated skirt was a highlight with a black cashmere turtleneck sweater with a gold beading on the front.

Lauren skipped forward a few years to the inter-war period for some gorgeous tulle beaded flapper dresses and a stunning Art Deco gold gown that swaggered rather than flowed because of its weight. A black satin gown worn with an ostrich feather cape of black and gold had Twenties glamour updated and the show finished on a rose gold lame dress with bias pleats in the one-shouldered bodice, which looked striking on Olga Sherer.