TOP TRENDS FROM LONDON FASHION WEEK

GINGHAM CHECKS

Gingham has become so widespread recently, it arguably shouldn't be considered a trend. But the imaginative new ways in which London designers have reworked classic picnic checks for spring earn a shoutout here.

PUFFY SLEEVES

The 80s are making major waves this season, and the decade has manifested its presence palpably with the inflation of sleeves. Ashley Williams and Emilio de la Morena were just a few of the London designers to show party frocks with puffy sleeves worthy of a John Hughes movie.

KHAKI COOL

Sure, every woman needs a great trench (hello, Burberry), but the full-on, utilitarian khaki looks we saw from London designers such as J. W. Anderson felt new, necessary and anything but standard issue.

CUT IT OUT

However you slice it, interesting cutouts have been all over the spring runways. In London, Erdem balanced a feminine ruffled dress with a graphic scrappy neckline, while Christopher Kane strategically placed subtle slivers all over his shimmery finale dresses.

XL SLEEVES

Go long! As seen on London runways for Pringle and Joseph, the coolest sleeves again this season extend well past your fingertips. Meanwhile, Ryan Lo took that look to the extreme with sleeves that dropped past the models' knees.

DISTRESSED DENIM

Denim is everywhere these days, but it's the young London brands (such as Faustine Steinmetz and Marques Almeida) who have pushed the fabric in new directions in recent years. This season, they showed ultra-distressed frayed styles that were pure rock 'n' roll.

NOVELTY FACTOR

More so than in any other city during fashion month, London designers bring a beguiling dose of humor to their collections. This season, Henry Holland closed his show with a parade of models in novelty tees printed with cheeky phrases, including: "I'd pay millions for a night with [fellow London designer] Ashley Williams." Meanwhile, Christopher Kane whipped up a playful sweater featuring the Saint Christopher motif.