In Pictures: London Fashion Week

LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 15: A model walks the runway at the Central Saint Martins MA show during London Fashion Week Fall/Winter 2013/14 at Somerset House on February 15, 2013 in London, England. (Photo by Felix Kunze/Getty Images)

LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM - FEBRUARY 16: Frankie Sandford, Rochelle Wiseman, Mollie King, Una Healy, Vanessa White and Pixie Lott attend the Julien Macdonald show during London Fashion Week Fall/Winter 2013/14 at Goldsmiths' Hall on February 16, 2013 in London, England. (Photo by Stuart Wilson/Getty Images)

LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 16: A model walks the runway at the Dans La Vie show during London Fashion Week Fall/Winter 2013/14 at Freemasons Hall on February 16, 2013 in London, England. (Photo by Samir Hussein/Getty Images)

LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 16: A model walks the runway at the Zeynep Tosun show during London Fashion Week Fall/Winter 2013/14 at Freemasons Hall on February 16, 2013 in London, England. (Photo by Samir Hussein/Getty Images)

LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 16: Angela Scanlon (2nd L), Mollie King (3rd L), Laura Whitmore (3rd R), Pixie Lott (2nd R) and Oliver Cheshire (R) attend the David Koma show during London Fashion Week Fall/Winter 2013/14 at Somerset House on February 16, 2013 in London, England. (Photo by Tim Whitby/Getty Images)

LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 16: Models pose backstage at the Dans La Vie show during London Fashion Week Fall/Winter 2013/14 at Freemasons Hall on February 16, 2013 in London, England. (Photo by Samir Hussein/Getty Images)

LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 16: Models walk the runway at the Bernard Chandran show during London Fashion Week Fall/Winter 2013/14 at Freemasons Hall on February 16, 2013 in London, England. (Photo by Samir Hussein/Getty Images)

LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 16: A model walks the runway at the Ashley Isham show during London Fashion Week Fall/Winter 2013/14 at Freemasons Hall on February 16, 2013 in London, England. (Photo by Samir Hussein/Getty Images)

LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM - FEBRUARY 16: Victoria Beckham, Diane Von Furstenberg and Donatella Versace attends the International Woolmark prize grand final during London Fashion Week Fall/Winter 2013/14 at ME Hotel on February 16, 2013 in London, England. (Photo by Stuart Wilson/Getty Images)

LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 16: A model walks the catwalk during the Pam Hogg show at Freemasons Hall during London Fashion Week Fall/Winter 2013/14 on February 16, 2013 in London, England. (Photo by Samir Hussein/Getty Images)

LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 16: Pam Hogg (R) walks the catwalk during the Pam Hogg show at Freemasons Hall during London Fashion Week Fall/Winter 2013/14 on February 16, 2013 in London, England. (Photo by Samir Hussein/Getty Images)

LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 17: David Luiz of Chelsea (L) in action with Jonathan Douglas of Brentford during the FA Cup Fourth Round Replay between Chelsea and Brentford at Stamford Bridge on February 17, 2013 in London, England. (Photo by Scott Heavey/Getty Images)

LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 17: Designer Vivienne Westwood walks the runway with her models during the finale of the Vivienne Westwood Red Label show during London Fashion Week Fall/Winter 2013/14 at the Saatchi Gallery on February 17, 2013 in London, England. (Photo by Ian Gavan/Getty Images)

LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 17: A model walks the runway during the Vivienne Westwood Red Label show during London Fashion Week Fall/Winter 2013/14 at the Saatchi Gallery on February 17, 2013 in London, England. (Photo by Ian Gavan/Getty Images)

LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 17: A model walks the runway at the Mary Katrantzou show during London Fashion Week Fall/Winter 2013/14 at Howich Place on February 17, 2013 in London, England. (Photo by Tim Whitby/Getty Images)

LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 17: A model prepares on the runway before the Vivienne Westwood Red Label show during London Fashion Week Fall/Winter 2013/14 at the Saatchi Gallery on February 17, 2013 in London, England. (Photo by Ian Gavan/Getty Images)

LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 17: A model prepares backstage before the Vivienne Westwood Red Label show during London Fashion Week Fall/Winter 2013/14 at the Saatchi Gallery on February 17, 2013 in London, England. (Photo by Ian Gavan/Getty Images)

LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 17: Portia Freeman, Tallulah Harlech, Chelsea Leyland and Mary Charteris attend the Matthew Williamson show during London Fashion Week Fall/Winter 2013/14 at on February 17, 2013 in London, England. (Photo by Felix Kunze/Getty Images)

LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 17: A model walks the runway at the Matthew Williamson show during London Fashion Week Fall/Winter 2013/14 at The Royal Opera House on February 17, 2013 in London, England. (Photo by Felix Kunze/Getty Images)

LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 17: Cara Delevingne walks the runway at the Matthew Williamson show during London Fashion Week Fall/Winter 2013/14 at The Royal Opera House on February 17, 2013 in London, England. (Photo by Felix Kunze/Getty Images)

LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 17: Models walk the runway at the Matthew Williamson show during London Fashion Week Fall/Winter 2013/14 at The Royal Opera House on February 17, 2013 in London, England. (Photo by Felix Kunze/Getty Images)

LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM - FEBRUARY 17: Pixie Lott and Oliver Cheshire attend the Mark Fast salon show during London Fashion Week Fall/Winter 2013/14 at ME Hotel on February 17, 2013 in London, England. (Photo by Stuart Wilson/Getty Images)

LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM - FEBRUARY 17: Zara Martin and Delilah (R) attend the Mark Fast salon show during London Fashion Week Fall/Winter 2013/14 at ME Hotel on February 17, 2013 in London, England. (Photo by Stuart Wilson/Getty Images)

LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM - FEBRUARY 17: Models wear designs at the Mark Fast salon show during London Fashion Week Fall/Winter 2013/14 at ME Hotel on February 17, 2013 in London, England. (Photo by Stuart Wilson/Getty Images)

LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM - FEBRUARY 17: Models walk the runway at the Paul Smith show during London Fashion Week Fall/Winter 2013/14 at on February 17, 2013 in London, England. (Photo by Stuart Wilson/Getty Images)

LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 17: A model walks the runway at the Marios Schwab show during London Fashion Week Fall/Winter 2013/14 at Somerset House on February 17, 2013 in London, England. (Photo by Danny Martindale/Getty Images)

LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 18: A model walks the runway at the Peter Pilotto show during London Fashion Week Fall/Winter 2013/14 at TopShop Show Space on February 18, 2013 in London, England. (Photo by Tim Whitby/Getty Images)

LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 18: Models walk the runway at the Peter Pilotto show during London Fashion Week Fall/Winter 2013/14 at TopShop Show Space on February 18, 2013 in London, England. (Photo by Tim Whitby/Getty Images)

A model on the catwalk during the John Rocha catwalk show on day two of London Fashion Week at Somerset House, London. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Saturday February 16, 2013. See PA story CONSUMER Fashion. Photo credit should read: Dominic Lipinski/PA Wire

EDITORS NOTE NUDITY: Models on the catwalk during the Pam Hogg Autumn/Winter 2013 catwalk show on day two of London Fashion Week at Freemasons Hall, London. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Saturday February 16, 2013. See PA story CONSUMER Fashion. Photo credit should read: Yui Mok/PA Wire

Models on the catwalk during the Margaret Howell Autumn/Winter 2013 catwalk show, Wigmore Street, London. Picture date: Sunday February 17, 2013. See PA story CONSUMER Fashion. Photo credit should read: Gareth Fuller/PA Wire

Models on the catwalk during the Preen catwalk show on day three of London Fashion Week, at the Heron Tower, London. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Sunday February 17, 2013. See PA story CONSUMER Fashion. Photo credit should read: Dominic Lipinski/PA Wire

Rihanna appears after the Rihanna for River Island Autumn/Winter 2013 catwalk show on day two of London Fashion Week at the Old Sorting Office, London. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Saturday February 16, 2013. See PA story CONSUMER Fashion. Photo credit should read: Lewis Whyld/PA Wire

Models on the catwalk during the Unique autumn/winter 2013 London Fashion Week show, at the Topshop Show Space, The Tanks at the Tate Modern in London.

Pam Hogg (R) walks the catwalk during the Pam Hogg show at Freemasons Hall during London Fashion Week Fall/Winter 2013/14

18 February 2013

Forget hefty price tags and designer clobber – the High Street took over London Fashion Week today, with Topshop’s Unique show and Whistles staging its first salon presentation.

Partnering this season with Google and YouTube to livestream the show to ever greater audiences, Topshop’s Unique line is not just about clothes but also about reach.

There was a youthful but chic feel in mid-length PVC circle skirts in bright hues of tomato and tan, as well fuzzy cropped jumpers – even a digital chintz on skirts and knits that was inspired by a pub carpet. Riffing on a current 90s nostalgia, donkey jackets and fun fur, candyfloss colours and maribou, recalled the sass of the Brit Pop era, a time Topshop’s many clamouring fans may not remember but will all want to emulate.

Whistles meanwhile took a quieter approach, less conservative than the blouse from the brand made famous by the Duchess of Cambridge and more fashionably purist.

“It seems to me that LFW should be able to combine both the newest and most innovative designers, as well as some of Britain’s great contemporary fashion brands, and thus celebrate all that is successful about British fashion,” said Whistles CEO Jane Shepherdson – also the guru that made Topshop the commercial giant it is today.

Since she took her current job in 2008, the brand’s profits have soared – more than 20 per cent in the past year. “When we started, the contemporary middle market was in a fledgling state, now it is arguably the fastest growing sector in fashion, so it is really important for us to stay relevant and innovative,” she added.

Ahead of her show, Dame Vivienne Westwood had some advice for the Duchess of Cambridge: stop buying so many different outfits and make more of an effort to be green. “I don’t have any advice for her, except I think it would be great if she wore the same clothes over and again, because that’s very good for the environment and it would send out a very nice message,” she said.

The Whistles show, which compromised wearable and on-trend leather separates, camouflage jacquard pieces and a geometric marble print in emerald green (one of the emerging shades of the autumn season), was also part of an international push for the brand. Already stocked in the French department store Printemps, it will also move into Russia and Germany this year, and the US and China in the near future.

Couple that with a recently opened flagship store in Mayfair and a new multi-lingual website and you have a brand that appears to have defied the economic doom and gloom.

At the upper end of the market, Mulberry is yet another British label doing well. Its front row revealed why: singer Lana del Rey and “It girl” Alexa Chung, both of whom have had best-selling styles by the brand named after them, were joined by Bafta’s rising star winner Juno Temple.

The shows continue tomorrow with two of the capital’s biggest names, megabrand Burberry and wunderkind Christopher Kane, fresh from the announcement that luxury goods conglomerate PPR has taken a 51 per cent stake in his acclaimed label.