LFW – Topshop Unique S/S 2014 collection

Since its humble beginnings nearly 50 years ago in a now defunct Sheffield department store, Topshop has become one of the most respected high street brands in the history of British fashion. It’s the only one to ever show at London Fashion Week, which it first did in 2005. 

Since then it has fast become the one to be seen at. On Sunday, both Jourdan Dunn and Cara D led the runway for the Brit girls and their FROW attracted the cream of the fash pack crop – it was graced by Mossy and Anna Wintour.

Like last year, it came from the creative brain of Emma Farrow, a Middlesex University textile graduate, and this year was just as good. Some of it was a kind of homage to hedonism – the tiny slip dresses and shorts are perfectly suited to Ibiza girls frolicking in San Antonio in the early hours of the morning.  

There was a strong cultural element, too. The Moroccan-style prints and patchwork-hemmed maxi dresses, loose shirts,shorts and tassled scarves are perfect for balmy, exotic nights in far-flung places.

There was a just-detectable and very lovely dash of 70s about the whole thing, and the colour palette – forest greens, royal blues, tropical yellows and a whole lot of cream – was more sophisticated than the usual-suspect flashy spring brights.

Our only qualm was the wide-legged denim turn-ups – a bit old hat – but on the whole a fantastic offering.

Kate Williams