Erdem...where have you been hiding?

Erdem is a name I've seen floating around several magazines recently. I'd never heard of this fashion brand before, therefore further investigation was required. Their website is a revelation. It showcases an eclectic mix of shape and style and makes me yearn for summer as the U.K.'s dark nights draw in. The hints of colour, bold prints and mix of fabrics offer everything that appeals to me in a collection. I have been unable to find an online stockist yet but on their website is a list of their above ground stores. Keep your eye on Erdem, I feel a bright future beckons...or maybe just a hint of colour.

Phillip spoils us again with 3.1 for spring.

Regular readers of my blog will understand my appreciation and general fawning over 3.1 Phillip Lim. As London fashion week begins in earnest, I am now digesting the delights that were on offer during New York's semaine. Elegance, varying lengths and splashes of colour were highlight's of Lim's collection and his understated elegance continues to delight. Flashes of banana yellow could be spotted peeping out in accessories, as well as block colour dresses and blouses. I also adore his use of navy as a base colour as opposed to black, such a great compliment to the deep peaches and yellows. See Lim's complete collection at Style.com and decided whether my "fanship" is justified.

Look what Marc did next...

I am a slave to the details and Marc Jacobs certainly didn't disappoint at New York fashion week. The catwalk was a true performance in every sense of the word but for me, the little quirks truly jumped out. Two of the eye-catchers were the oddly angled heals and emotive masks. Fashion should be fun and I'm glad to see Marc Jacobs putting the divertissement back on to the catwalk. See the stills of the spectacle at Style.com.

Sophia Kokosalaki - the beauty is in the detail.

Sophia Kokosalaki's Grecian heritage is hinted at in the gorgeous details of her fall collection. The beautiful folds and draping really set her clothing in a league of its own - I would pay a little more for a truly unique piece of design. See the whole collection here and revel in its beauty.

Preen - Body conscious fashion seems less scary and far more appealing!

The prospect of "body conscious" autumn clothing is very worrying and unforgiving! No unsightly bumps or bulges, no fizzy drinks or big lunches...just more time in the gym (which I don't do by the way!). Preen offer a glimmer of hope. Alongside the clingy, come the "shapely" and "fitted" that seem to involve far less effort! I demonstrate the progression above - clingy...shapely...fitted tied coat, with a touch of oversizing. See more from Preen on Style.com.

Marithe + Francois Girbaud - So cool, it hurts!

French brand Marithe + Francois Girbaud have their finger firmly pressed on the style button. Their Fall '07 collection is a voluminous feast of edgy fashion. There are pockets galore, superfluous layering...it doesn't get much better! The only downside, the lack of MFG stores in the U.K. You can buy their jeans but a trip to France is in order to purchase these delights. Their website is also an aesthetic dream, that simply has to be clicked on.

Brian Reyes...watch this space.

Ever since Rachel Bilson wore this dress to one of the premieres of The Last Kiss, I have been intrigued by the designer Brian Reyes. This dress is simple, yet eye-catching and truly original - especially with the contrasting coloured accessories. With the current weather in the U.K., extremely erratic, I've taken a look at his winter collection. Alongside his oversized, cosy, yet fashionable items, stands out a fitted take on this grey dress. To winter-it-up-a-bit, they've added the opaque tight, to make this a year round outfit. I adore the grey cap-sleeved coat, although loosely fitted, it has a definitive sense of form and shape. I shall be keeping my eye on Mr. Reyes, who has also been championed in this week's Grazia...global success beckons.

Twinkle...You really are a Star.

I always thought Twinkle by Wenlan made gorgeous, designer, chunky knits. Then today I stumbled across an email advertising Twinkle jewellery. On further investigation (I felt thoroughly fashion-unaware!), Twinkle has produced several stunning collections, incorporating a stunning mix of colours and fabrics, layering and loveliness. I adore these outfits above, with their full spectrum of colours, particularly the spotted swing dress, centre. Below is a peak at their eclectic necklaces - the mix of colours and materials makes them truly unique. Wenlan Chia is still a great advocate of fine knitwear but has also managed to move seamlessly into the realm of quirky fashion. Check out the Twinkle website for more details, especially of their stunning wools and knits; plus buy online at Shopbop or from the Twinkle on-line store.

Matthew Williamson - Embellished Shift Dresses

I was a little unsure when I first saw these dresses last year by Matthew Williamson but the simplistic chic behind these seemingly over-the-top dresses is now starting to shine through. I think it may be a mirroring the start of spring! I saw Cat Deeley on a U.K. quiz show a few weeks ago, wearing the black floral shift, left. She looked stunning and at the time I remember thinking, "what a great dress, I wonder if it's high street?". I then remembered where I'd seen it before, on the Matthew Williamson catwalk, at a definitely un-high street price of approx £1,400! I adore the way these dresses fall and hang and when worn the O.T.T. details seem to disappear. Have a few thousand to spare?!! Pick one up at Browns or Net-a-Porter.

Chloé - The new collection's growing on me.

At first I was a little unsure of the new Chloé fall collection, by Paulo Melim Andersson...but the more I look at each piece, the more certain items seem to stand out. I particularly love the use of orange, as both a main and accent colour, especially the drop waisted, ruffle dress above. I'm not a big fan of the patent, platform, doc martin style boots (they were too much of a distraction). The styling details were also a triumph. The oversized satchels were stunning, I'm sure we'll see them on several celebrity arms (or more likely shoulders!) this fall. I'm also a huge fan of printed scarves and adore the turban styling below. I'm sure they will be sufficiently expensive, so no Chloé for me this fall...but we can all look on with envy!!!

Oh Stella!

Wow...I've had difficulty getting my hands on pictures from Stella McCartney's Fall show in Paris today...but from what I have seen in looks amazing!! I adore the cape/mac above - it's voluminous but still seems very tailored. Grey/silver and red are a favourite colour combination of mine - the gorgeous red dress with fabulous pocket details, simply stunning. Admirably, Stella is one of the few designers that refuses to use leather or fur in her ranges - it's great to see such beautiful designs are still acheivable without animal cruelty, such as this striking oversized bag. This was one of the most eagerly anticipated shows (especially by me) ... and it truly hasn't disappointed.

Swing Jackets and Capes

I'm loving the fall 2007 trend for capes and oversized swing jackets. They were seen at (left to right), Gharani Strok, Acquascutum and Versace. I love the lighter stone and winter white colour palettes - there will be some light on those dark winter days after all!

The Future of Fashion...Looking Good.

I was away for most of London Fashion week but the Central Saint Martin's show (by students from their masters degree course) truly impressed me. Pavel Ivancic, Alexandra Agoston and Karmen Pedaru combined their talents to produce the volumionous ruffles of the stunning collection above, with amazing flashes of red. The voluminous trend was continued by Chemena Kamali, with a very modern twist on the traditional tweed. It's great to see that the future of fashion is in such capable, talented hands.