#Trending on the Jasper Conran Catwalk
The sun might only just have risen and the fashion elite might have had late nights dashing from evening shows to after parties, but you’d never have known it from the clicking of cameras, rustling of invites and feverish tweeting at Somerset House early on Saturday morning. Grabbing lattes to go, we took our seats at one of the first shows of the day: Jasper Conran.
A designer who’s captivated audiences with his designs for almost 30 years, this season Jasper Conran led us in to an autumnal woodland. Crispy leaves in bottle green and golden brown lay scattered on the catwalk, hinting at the colour schemes we’d soon see paraded up and down. With warm orange lighting illuminating the backdrop, the show began, highlighting three key trends for AW15/16.
#Trending: layering up contrasting textures
Since the beginning of time women have been trying to master the delicate art of layering. Although repeatedly hailed as autumn’s go-to trend thanks to its practicality (particularly for those of us dwelling in the Land of Frustratingly Temperamental Weather – London), layering can prove easier said than done. Honestly? We’re often left feeling more big and bulky than bold and beautiful. Don’t give up just yet though; Jasper Conran’s new season designs may just prove to be the inspiration we’ve been waiting for.
The British designer cleverly styled his AW15/16 collection to demonstrate the dramatic effect layering different textures in the same colour palette can have. Proportions were played with as neat long sleeves emerged from billowing chunky-knit jumpers, rich plum furs looked even more lavish against crenelated pleats, and thick suede collars stood proud atop thin roll neck jumpers.
#Trending: head to toe colour blocking
Having enjoyed a brief moment of fame on the high street during the mid-noughties, it looks like coloured tights are set to replace traditional black and nude hosiery come autumn. With the tights as a base, Jasper Conran then colour-matched his dresses, skirts, jackets and even hats, allowing all those sumptuous textures to do the talking. Working with head to toe inky indigos, deep wines and autumnally-apt garden greens, willowy silhouettes demonstrated that less can definitely be more when it comes to colour choices.
#Trending: matching mismatched prints and colours
A potentially confusing contradiction of terms, but a hugely clever sartorial statement, Jasper Conran has definitely taught us a thing or two about how to match mismatching prints this season. Again working with the simple rule of keeping colours to a minimum – no more than two at a time – the AW15/16 collection explores the idea of clashing wildly different patterns. Strict geometric checks, diamonds and squares blend effortlessly in to relaxed florals thanks to a common colour palette.
