Mary's Scarves

About a week ago, I wrote about Mary Katrantzou's A/W 2011 collection. Of course, like most other items shown on London Fashion Week's runways, her collection is significantly out of my price range. With this in mind, my delight at hearing that Mary Katrantzou had designed two silk scarves for Topshop hardly needs explanation.

(Topshop, $100)

(Topshop, $100)

I'm glad to see Mary Katrantzou's gorgeous prints splashed across as many mediums as possible. Factor in the high street prices, and I'm sold.

Prime Prints: Jonathan Saunders Fall 2011

While many designers excel at prints, London Fashion Week seemed to have more than its fair share of talent. While my overall impression of Jonathan Saunder's Fall 2011 collection was a bit underwhelming, his print placement was spot on. I'm still astonished how the bright colors almost seem, well, restrained.

I love the unconventional orange and turquoise pairing that quite accurately bridges summer and fall. I know the cardigan is menswear, but the combination of the color and print makes it seriously covetable.

 I love the blouse on the right and the skirt of the dress on the left. Who am I kidding, I love the skirt on the right as well... just not the head-to-toe styling. The waist defining silhouette of both looks is incredibly figure flattering, and the flutter sleeves and length are ladylike and elegant. At the same time, the fun print and unexpected colors keep the look very youthful and fun.

This final look doesn't showcase Saunders' prints, but I love the juxtaposition of the flirty hemline and large, graphic overlay. Very minimalist and modern.

Images via Style.com

Mary Katrantzou Fall 2011

One of my favorite collections from London Fashion Week was Mary Katrantzou's incredible rendition of prints. Her collection was once again inspired by interior decor, though this time it felt as if Katrantzou had picked up the objects, ranging from Fabergé eggs to Ming vases, and magically turned them into fabric. While a stiff silhouette prevailed throughout most of the show, softer fabrics made a debut. Above all, the focus was on the vibrant prints, which transfixed my attention from the first to last look.

 I love the soft, but vibrant colors, and the couture shapes.

 The skirts of these two looks are a bit more wearable in their fluidity. The sleeves of the top are a nice touch, adding a note of femininity while emphasizing the structure of the collection.

For good measure, the New York Times described it as "an object lesson in inspiration.... Rising designers always have a “breakthrough” moment — and this was the season when the designer’s sculptural vision created a collection of startling beauty." All in all, a gorgeous collection that definitely was a standout of London Fashion Week.

Images from Style.com