First look: Topshop spring/summer 2012

It’s a strange concept that, when upping the heating by a few degrees and being stalked by dull skies, we should be thinking about spring, but alas, fashion is nothing if not far-out at times.

And so it was that yesterday we were transported to far sunnier climes when we popped into Topshop‘s press day to see what’s in store next season – and as the high street store presented its first stand-alone presentation (without the rest of the Arcadia group), temps were soaring to say the least.

Split into four sections – festival, metallic luxe, tropical and scuba – you can expect to be wearing the following next season: candyfloss colours with ombre effects, cropped pastel knits, delicate lace dresses (often in acid shades), slathers of metallic silver, tropical prints and scuba details.

Highlights include a cream chiffon maxi dress decorated with pink embroidery, a nude patent biker jacket that screams tough Upper East girl, ombre shades on silk trousers and a lightweight blazer, a shiny silver leather mac fit for a flight to the moon, an Eighties-bright tropical print blouse and an Erdem-esque floral printed silk top.

Shoes, both heels and sandals, get the silver touch too, but the most impressive piece, perhaps, was Mary Katrantzou’s limited edition dress.

As close to the designer’s mainline as it could possibly get, her signature prints and structured shapes have been translated across a 14 piece capsule collection set to hit stores next February. So far a colourful contrast print puff-ball dress is the only glimpse we’ve been given, but you can take our word that it’s likely to become Topshop‘s most successful designer collaboration to date.

We’re only allowed to share five images of Topshop‘s new collection, so, naturally, we’ve tried to pack as many pieces into those pictures as possible – click through our gallery below to see highlights of what’s in store from Topshop next spring.

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