If there is one thing you can say about Christopher Bailey, it’s that he knows how women want to dress. And if the clothes weren’t proof enough a cursory glance of the front row at this London Fashion Week’s RTW show (that counted Clémence Poésy, Rosie Huntington- Whitely, Eddie Redmayne and Alexa Chung amongst its number) is indicative of the autonomy Bailey enjoys as the ‘go to’ for high-end fashion that is always a step ahead. 

As ever for the British luxury label, outerwear was a major focus of the show opening with a reimagining of the classic trench coat in a “Town meets Field” aesthetic where the classic city-girl trench was transformed with tweed side panels and herringbone bellows pockets into a more rural offering for Autumn/Winter.  Elsewhere in the collection outerwear was impeccably constructed giving effortlessly elegant outlines, cinched at the waist with oversized pockets and exaggerated lower proportions to create an hourglass effect. 

This “Town meets Field” aesthetic continued as striped skirts paired with cropped tweed jackets, classic pencil skirts in various shades of olive velvet teamed with skinny bombers  and naively sketched animal- motif knitwear celebrated British foibles in an eclectic mix of town and country fabrics. 

As far as silhouettes were concerned it was all about the waist for Bailey this season as cinched belts with kitsch bow and fox-head detailing accentuated the variety of peplums on display.

Central spiral ruffles on horsewoman skirts and full striped skirts emphasised this feminine shape further. Accessories served to toughed things up with studded gloves and lace-up stiletto boots adding an element of “town” to the whimsy of Bailey’s “Field”. 

Eveningwear translated into outerwear in a stunning quilted dress-coat worn by Cara Delevigne was the epitome of luxurious femininity (note the sweet bow belt) with an urban edge rendering it a standout of the collection.

In striking the perfect balance between contemporary and classic, sweet femininity and hard urban edge, Bailey has created a collection that is sure to be snapped up by any member of his front row.  A triumph.