London Fashion Week once again bought us some very memorable shows, and while the designers took their inspiration from a huge variety of sources, a group of key Spring 2016 trends brought them all together. Some crossed over from Autumn/Winter: the late '60s and '70s still reigned supreme, and both yellow and lilac were popular hues. Others felt fresh and new, giving us something to look forward to next year. See the key trends now, and start working out how you'll incorporate them into your wardrobe once the warm weather returns.
Black featured in almost every collection; a seemingly odd choice for Spring/Summer, but designers gave the darker hue a warm weather update by adding sheer panels, cutouts, lace edges, spiderweb details, and all kinds of skin-revealing touches. The result was sexy, playful, and definitely not boring.
The waist is back! And with it comes a while new collection of belts to really emphasise the narrowest part of the body. London designers were obsessed with finishing their looks with tie belts, from grosgrain ribbon in classic black to chunky contrasting fabrics, skinny leather, and wide double-wrapped obi belts.
Wave goodbye to oversize florals and big graphic prints. This season, London designers liked their flowers in more delicate sizes. Don't confuse these with the ditsy prints of a few years ago, though, they're a little more abstract than that, but still a far cry from the oversize tropical blooms we've been used to.
The little white dress got a whole lot more intricate for Spring. Designers played with texture, from heavy modern lace to broderie anglaise, sheer cotton, and all manner of 3D-detail fabrics that add a new dimension to the classic Summer hue. It even extended to separated too. Issa's white lace trousers are a must if you're brave!
If you're the kind of woman who needs a Summer evening gown, look no further than these sparkling creations. Liquid metals, bugle beads, pailettes, glitter, and sequins were everywhere at the London shows, as were Swarovski crystals, decorating collars, cuffs, bodices, and — if you're very lucky — entire dresses.
The "crisp white shirt" is a boring if classic basic that everyone woman is told she should own. This season, that really is true . . . but your shirt doesn't have to be boring. Designers put exciting new spins on the timeless design, from cold-shoulder belted looks to floaty crossover creations.
Spring in the UK isn't as warm as we'd like it to be, which is perhaps why some designers adopted an outerwear trend usually reserved for Winter. From Emilia Wickstead's bold '70s-print cape to Hunter's festival-ready fringed creation, capes were everywhere for day and night.