With London Fashion week all but a distant memory, the ever-evolving world of fashion is now looking towards next summer! Especially relevant as the nights are closing in, boots are dug out of storage and comfort food is on the menu. It’s only the access to next seasons’ bikinis and the promise of pina coladas that are going to get us fashionistas through the winter months!

With that in mind, fashion next season is taking on a number of stand-out trends. As usual, there is something for everyone, but if you can pin point key pieces from the catwalks, the high street will be bursting with their own take on the following come next spring.

Futuristic is still making an impact, with Burberry re-working their classic trench in a number of chocolate box shades including purple, pink and lilac- which obviously impressed frow-er Harry Styles- perhaps because his girlfriend Cara Delevingne was walking for the show- and even wrapped up in a trench coat, she oozed summer sex appeal. More suited to the summer (or not with if this year is anything to go by!!) Matthew Williamson used metallics on leather and as embellishments; With foils and high shine pieces also being shown at Christopher Kane, Antonio Beradi, Markus Lupfer and Jonathan Saunders. Highlights being the boxy cuts, and phosphorescent shades, which added an edgy mermaid appeal to Saunders’ collection. Bernard Chandran used a grey, white and black palette, but added a few sequins into his mix as well as white PVC and a streak of rebelliousness. His collection even included a full sequin tracksuit, and you can’t get much more futuristic than that! Which, if you are that way inclined, will be on your next summer hit list … (read mine!!)

Monochrome is going to be big with the power dressers; Simple silhouettes, and basic shapes were prevalent on a number of catwalks, leaving room for accessorizing or keeping it nice and neat. With Sass and Bide returning to London fashion week after a season off, their collection fused masculine and feminine- and could best be described as aggressive power dressing- shell adornment has never looked better on a simple understated dress. Block colours were back at Topshop Unique, Roksanda Ilincic and Hemyca who used a strong collection of black and white basics, with subtlety beaded necklines and belts. Adam Andrascik’s collection was full of separates with contrasting stripes. Shirts and skirts/trousers combos coupled in basic easy to wear shapes added to the subtle sophistication, and asymmetric hemlines with a touch of sheer panelling are a well-received cheeky wink!

Sports luxe is another trend that seems to have wedged a place in the fash packs hearts. Inspired by this year’s Olympics, or just generally the joy of running around in sporty gear in the summer, designers were sending out models faster than tennis ball practice! Christian Blanken has long aligned himself with the sportswear aesthetic, producing collections in a practical fashion for fashion and not sport! Fusing python print, suede and liquid metal, there is something for the girl on the go, all staying true to a fuss free philosophy of mix and match basics. David Koma’s collection was a lot more specific and referenced female tennis stars of the 1920s; Basing the collection on bodycon and dropped waist dresses, the collection was mostly a very wearable and extremely practical full house. With the colour palette of green, tangerine, blue and white- its freshness will be sure to inspire, and if the go faster stripes make you go faster, all the better! Liz Black also offered a complimentary sports inspired silhouette; With her colour choice being pink and black, she used perforated elements, which lent a cosmopolitan edge and breaks the mould of tradition. Zoe Jordan also based her collection on a sports luxe theme with a mash up of girly shades and tomboy shapes; there was a mixture of crop tops, blazers, harem pants and bombers. Completed by baseball caps and sunglasses, this is one for the kool kidz! Talking of cool crowd, Ashish showed a much more reserved collection than usual, but it still had oodles of personality! Sequins mixed with denim mixed with scrunchies and styled by Anna Trevelyan who completed the back to the nineties grunge look with white Reebok classics. And if that isn’t enough to make you want to break out a sweat, there must be something wrong!

If dressing safe is not your thing, another key trend is mismatch. Strong in the belief that clashing works, designers including Holly Fulton, Louise Gray, Meadham Kirchoff, Peter Pilotto and Issa lead us down the path that is not for the faint hearted; Mashing up colours and shapes all in the name of fun, you can find anything from hypercolour, fringing, pom poms and paisley! Henry Holland brought us 90s neon complete with tiny cropped tops; Also appealing was the PPQ inspired psychedelic collection; If you’re a fan of the mini/maxi extremes are you will fall in love with the embellished dresses, jumpsuits and halter necks. Leutton Postle also offered an eclectic mix. Definitely screaming summer, the clash of patterns – blocks, triangles, stripes, mish matched collars, tongue in cheek tassels and to die for shoes, they add a sense of drama to any spring summer wardrobe. The Louise Gray collection screamed FUN! Based on graffiti, there is much to be said about the appeal of a “Hot” “Yeah o Yeah” and other expletives! Definitely a talking point, the leather, appliqué and chiffon was showcased as high energy and with Barbie as a show sponsor, I guess we shouldn’t have expected anything less! Holly Fulton is another designer who steers well away from the ordinary! Transporting us to the City of Angels- LA, the bubblegum colours and riotous prints have already sent a teaser of an unimaginable hot summer, cruising around with oversized sunnies and the roof down on your Chevy Corvette.

Gaining a more grown up reputation, stripes and checks crossed over to SS and cropped up on several catwalks and are a refreshing contrast to a nautical look. Jonathan Saunders played with metallic stripes in cool blue and silver, while Giles experimented with thick black and white horizontal stripes.

Markus Lupfer was a bit more experimental and featured bold chevron patterns meshed with floral motifs and graphic, tribal elements. Acne also sent out monochrome stripes and a selection of black and white stripe separates. With the Queen of Tartan, Vivienne Westwood, also featuring a beige palette with high waist trousers as one of her key pieces.As an easy to wear trend, Clements Ribeiro offered possibly the most transferable collection; With bright striped polo tops, and tartan pencil skirts, this is something to wear straight from the catwalk.

Above all, there is much to look forward to, and with tights also seeming to have made a bit of an impact, SS13 fashion might be ready for the great British summer!

By Sara Darling