Harvey Nichols A/W12 Show Highlights

A week ago I had the pleasure of attending the Harvey Nichols A/W12 Fashion Show. My budget doesn’t really extend to shopping sprees at this exclusive Quakers Friars address, except for the occasional Nails Inc manicure, but I was curious to get a closer look at the incredible designers the brand stocks, including Vivienne Westwood, Isabel Marant and Helmut Lang.

Turning up in bright floral trousers with S from Beautiful Plumage in tow, I felt a little out of place amongst a sea of women dressed in black, the only pop of colour being their sky-high neon heels. A couple of glasses of champagne helped us to relax as we waited for the show to begin on the ground floor, surrounded by Cambridge Satchel Company bags, Jo Malone scents and so-pretty-they-almost-make-me-want-one Marc jacobs iPad holders.

We were soon ushered upstairs to take our seats for the show, which took place towards the back of the womenswear department. Womenswear and menswear were both on display in scenes that gave a nod to winter florals, gothic and heritage trends, with gorgeous Barbour biker jackets and vintage capes, below, tickling my fancy.

The pieces from Vivienne Westwood’s Red Label were equally exquisit – I’ve always had a soft spot for her tailoring, and she’s definitely a designer I’d buy into if I could afford it. In this season’s Company High Street Edit magazine writer Lena de Casparis road-tests Westwood’s collection in the ‘real world’ (read: Shoreditch) which is actually worth a read if you’ve always lusted after this label.

Another outfit worth a mention was an incredible laser cut leather biker jacket by Muubaa paired with McQ printed leggings – sadly I didn’t get a good shot of it but you can see the jacket here. While I can’t stretch to the £490 price tag (despite what Jessie J says it actually is about the money) I’m going to keep my eyes peeled for a similar high street version this season.

If money were no object what big brands would you spend your cash on? Or perhaps you invest wisely in designer pieces already? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below.

Harvey Nichols A/W Show programme

I love this Barbour biker jacket, with McQ skirt

Vintage Barbour cape paired with J Brand jeans and an olive green Burberry London shirt

Neon green Christian Louboutin heels strut down the catwalk

Want, want, want this Vivienne Westwood Red Label tweed cape

This Mary Katrantzou A/W12 Nebraska print dress features crystal and chess piece patterns

The latest A/W12 trends in Harvey Nichols, Bristol

These Joseph leather leggings tick the box for my current craving for leather, but I’m not sure I could pull them off as well as this model did!

S and I in the Harvey Nichols bar, overlooking Quakers Friars