London Fashion Week SS12: Mulberry

Who: Mulberry

What: Bonkers British seaside! Carousel animal prints, candyfloss colours – in hair and clothes – and pops of arcade brights on floaty dresses, skirt suits and separates. All, of course, laced with signature Mulberry charm, wit and English eccentricity.

Highlights: Decadently embellished jackets that sparkle like arcade lights, a gold skirt suit in muted metallic boucle and lizzard print accessories (naturally).

Lowlights: Khaki knitted leggings felt out of place under a pink skirt and zebra tee.

Overall: You could have guessed, from the icecream van dishing out frozen treats and pink lemonade outside and giant candy-coloured cones decorating Claridge’s entrance, that this was going to be a lively show, but of course, it’s inside where all the fun happens. If you hadn’t guessed the theme of Mulberry’s spring 2012 collection yet, walking past the animal balloon-filled hall of helium leopards and zebras and into the ballroom, where sounds of seagulls played against an arcade entrance with flashing coloured lights and an enlarged clown-like face certainly gave the game away. As Oh I do like to be Beside the Seaside played out to the room, so the models appeared on the runway, clad in flowing pleated skirts and rain macs to account for every weather at the beach. Sundresses that resembled Refreshers in pink, lemon and mint stripes were layered over long-sleeved tops, while animal prints featured on jackets and dresses to deliver Mulberry’s signature quirk. Hair, backcombed to a bouffant, had washed-out candy floss streaks, a jewel-encrusted skirt mimicked reflections of the brightest Blackpool lights and muted gold summer boucle skirt suits added a posh twist to this pier collection. Though she’s still fun-loving (note new Alexas with teddy bear rivets), Mulberry’s girl has grown up for spring – she’s a little sexier and showier and, hell, we know where we’re going to get some of that next season.

Watch the video of Mulberry’s spring/summer 2012 show below:

Image: Mulberry