LFW SS16

Fashion moves fast and just as we are settling into our new autumn looks the spring summer collections for 2016 are hitting the catwalks.  Semple is here to guide you through the shows so read our lowdown on the labels you will be coveting:

Versus

As the little sister of fashion powerhouse Versace, Versus manages to seamlessly nod to its sartorial sibling whilst stamping its own unique style on to the catwalk. The punch of Versace is evident in the hardware and sharp cut of the collection but the overt sexual nature of the designs and the glamour has been toned down into a collection that is both covetable and wearable.  

Creative Director Anthony Vaccarello has embraced fashion’s love affair with androgyny by producing male and female collections that appear easily interchangeable. The dark pallet of black and navy is broken up with monochrome leopard print and a dark floral design which is refreshingly welcome for a spring collection.  Looks like the inner Goth in all of us may see some sunshine come next spring.

Topshop Unique

You can always rely on Topshop Unique to bring fun into their fashion. With more than a nod to the 80s, tailored power dressing was a key feature of the collection with a hint of eighties rock ‘n’ roll. Mannish blazers were worn over everything from trousers to tea dresses and were finished off with a skinny belt to add a feminine twist to the look. As usual there were a few fun additions to the collection; a faux fur here or a splash of pink leather there, reminding us that we should never take ourselves or our fashion too seriously. 

The key to this collection is all in the styling so take careful notes; dress down sensual sheer dresses with chunky knits, soften leather with floaty florals, wear everything with an eighties “I don’t give a damn” swagger and never leave the house without a slick of red lippy. 

Vivienne Westwood Red Label

Vivienne Westwood’s Red Label collection brings the antidote to sharp tailoring that stalked many of the catwalks. With a looser fit, pretty draping and even a tea dress or two, this collection might seem more in line with what we have come to recognise as spring fashion. But if you think spring means girly and twee then think again because this collection has all of the punk attitude that Westwood is known for.

Voluminous skirts, tops and jackets are artfully disarrayed in a welcome change to the crisp, sharp looks that tend to come with tailoring.  Hints of the Eighties, where Westwood first made her name, are evident in the slouchy printed tops and the whiff of romanticism that plays with the ladylike punk nature of the collection. The Queen of Punk has lost none of her fighting spirit; the bold prints and nonchalant draping adds to the tough yet elegant drama of the collection.