Spring Into a New Season With London Fashion Week's Biggest Trends

Spring always brings brighter colours our way, and it doesn't get brighter than the neon green we saw on the catwalks from Christopher Kane to Marques Almeida. When you're wearing a hue this bold, it makes sense to keep the silhouette simple, which is why neon pieces in London tended towards simple boyish shirts and shift dresses, rather than fussy frills and lace. At Mark Fast and Pushbutton, knit fabrics allowed for a skintight fit: be that an '80s inspired tube skirt, or 90s-inspired cycling shorts.

Get ready to take flight, because the embellishment of choice in London was the feather. Whether they was trimming the sleeve of a party dress at Julien Macdonald's new label Julien x Gabriella, or making up the entirety of 16 Arlington's ombre gown, feathers were everywhere. But before you whip out that old feather boa, bear in mind the way London designers approached this trend was to layer up hundreds of delicate ostrich feathers all over dresses and gowns. A token accessory just will not do!

The trouser suit continues to have a moment as far as London's designers are concerned, and they're getting even more opulent and extravagant. All-over sequins at Halpern, exaggerated lengths at Temperley, and houndstooth at Victoria Beckham were just the beginning: if you don't experiment with print and texture, do so with shape, opting for details like sashes or slinky double-breasted cuts.

The trench coat really belongs to one specific London-based label, Burberry, and of course Riccardo Tisci put a new spin on the style for Spring 2020. But he wasn't the only designer to focus on this classic. From Marta Jacubowski's layered look to Erdem's pinafore-inspired design, there were so many new takes on the trench, those April showers won't stand a chance.

Are you ready for lacy, high-necked dresses? Victorian and Edwardian-inspired necklines with puffed long sleeves were all over the London runways, from Erdem to Christopher Kane. Keeping the look modern was all in the details: at Burberry the hemlines were chopped short, while at Preen the lace was unlined in places, allowing for some peekaboo moments. It's still a look that requires a bravery, but if you can make it work, well, wouldn't it be loverly?

Yes, yes, this is where we put that overused The Devil Wears Prada quote about florals for Spring. But seriously, what is a Spring show without a fresh floral? This time around, London designers took their florals to extremes, opting for giant blooms (at Paul Costelloe), graphic prints (at Christopher Kane), and mix-and-match hawaiian florals (at Ports 1961). These are not the dull ditsy prints you're used to, but a far more artistic take that really makes a statement.

If you buy one separate for Spring, make it a sheer blouse or ruched top. Layered sheer fabrics were one of London Fashion Week's biggest trends, and the easiest way to wear it is as a top, layered up over a bandeau, vest, or t-shirt. Opt for House of Holland's neon style for a trend double-whammy, or choose a sexier gathered look like the long-sleeved styles on offer at Molly Goddard and Mark Fast.