Semaine de la mode de Londres - Temperley London SS13

Timeless elegance was at the heart of Temperley London’s Spring Summer 2013 collection, one of the most stunning of this season. Inspired by the flawless style of the late 1950’s and a young Sophia Loren, the designer treated us to a dream of luminosity and ethereality.

The elongated silhouettes of models seemed to float rather than walk and one could almost hear the discreet whisper of the silk making its way on the catwalk. Clean and classic cuts were modernised with plays of transparency, stripes of bright silk on diaphanous skirts. Breath-taking lace appliqués on sheer fabric on the sleeves and backs, and embroideries inspired by Moorish design on crisp cotton dresses and shirts added another touch of modernity to this incredibly pretty collection. The Sophia Loren’s touch was undeniably present through the sexy hairdos, the Dolce Vita sunglasses and the stunning peep-toes heels by Charlotte Olympia.

Other fabulous accessories were the coolie style hats, offering an exquisite reminiscence of Christian Dior’s New Look. Très très chic!

The colour palette revolved around cool tones of immaculate whites, china blues and watery greens, warmed up by touches of mouth-watering tomato red.

Alice Temperley said about the inspiration for the collection, rightly entitled ‘Return to Elegance’: ‘I love the idea of fashion’s return to elegance and what it means today – do we still have the time to dress properly, be poised, or be brave enough to make that consistent statement rather than searching for the new all the time? These questions I have tried to answer in the clothes themselves’.

The answers couldn’t be better, showing us a woman who is both extremely elegant and cherishes simplicity and freshness above everything.

Laurie Guillem