Front Row at Fashion Week

Saturday evening at Somerset House. Torrential rain. Ridiculous bondage shoes that making traversing over cobbles nigh on impossible. But such petty things as walking matter little when I am front row at London Fashion Week for the John Rocha collection. It's crazy busy, as all pre-shows are, with everyone bustling around, the photographers assembling at the end of the catwalk,  and everyone eyeing each other wondering who's who and who's sitting where. The the lights dim, the audience hushes and the models emerge in their amazing creations.

Simple white dress and head piece

Black feather dress



John Rocha leads out his models at the end of the show.



The clothes are simple and stunning in either black or white with no hint of colour, the fabrics they're made of do the talking for them. Feathers, chiffon and subtle layering make the clothes sit so lightly on the body, lending the models and ethereal air which is heightened by the sculptures they wear on their heads, which seem like wings.

The collection is beautiful and eminently wearable, with full flattering skirts and high necklines continuing the ladylike theme that's starting to dominate this season. The work that goes into designing and making these clothes is simply incredible - the cut, fit and finish of the material all combining to sit and drape elegantly on the body as per the designer's wish.

John Rocha isn't mentioned a lot in the 'best of the week' articles written as Fashion Week draws to a close, the journalists preferring to concentrate on other big names such as Vivienne Westwood and Burberry. But someone I met at Fashion Week said that he often goes into the store when John Rocha's new collections come in and spends a couple of hours just looking at and touching the clothes. It may sound mad, but after seeing this collection, I totally get it.