Harvey Nichols Fashion Show - Video And Gallery

WHILE New York, London, Paris and Milan (The Big Four) are all full speed ahead with Spring/Summer 2012, we are all begrudgingly packing away our summer frocks, flirty sandals and bidding our pedicured toes farewell for the winter.

Not only is it one of the best nights out in Manchester, it also serves as a refresher course in what you should be wearing – and buying – right now.

The hottest trends and that must-have gilet are all but a faded memory – most of us can’t even remember what we had for dinner last night let alone what happened on a distant catwalk six months ago. There have been two royal weddings, riots, earthquakes, hurricanes, the fall of evil dictators and plenty of other distractions since then for fashions sake. That’s why the Harvey Nichols fashion show is always a refreshing change of pace. Not only is it one of the best nights out in Manchester, it also serves as a refresher course in what you should be wearing – and buying – right now.

In all its Victorian gothic glory, Manchester’s Town Hall played host to last night’s big event. And it was indeed the perfect backdrop for the show’s Enchanted Forest theme. While television personality Elaine Willcox hosted the runway presentation, there were quite a few well-known faces carefully positioned throughout the crowd – but we would never mention any names (Emily Jagielka, Leanne Brown, John Thomson and his wife Sam, Jane Given, Stacey Giggs, Trisha Penrose and Jennie
McAlpine.).

Trends ran the gamut stretching from classic (Polo Ralph Lauren) and clean cut (Paul Smith) to gothic glamour (Galliano) and fetish dressing (Alexander McQueen). And for those days when nothing in your closet seems to feel right, no need to fret – the androgynous look is spot on-trend and gives you the perfect excuse to raid your boyfriend’s closet. With Roland Mouret, Nicole Farhi and Balenciaga leading the way, you are sure to be the epitome of style, not slump.

If you are a traditionalist and prefer to ease into autumn with rich tones – think deep burgundies, cider orange and plum – and cosy fabrics is more your style, you are going to be a very happy fashionista this season. You’ll be revelling in denim, corduroy and patterns galore. Prefer Converse to heels and sweatshirts to plunging necklines? Then Dior, Dolce & Gabbana and Gucci have just the outfit for you.

And well, what would winter be without a little après ski? Our much-loved Moncler hats, D&G snoods and John Smedley jumpers have taken on the season’s brightest hues and turned our chunky knits and winter footwear into showstoppers. They are sure to breathe life into even the dullest of post-slope soirées (does even such a thing exist?).

After the barrage of eye-popping trends, drool-worthy accessories and gorgeous models subsided, most of the crowd headed back to Harvey Nichols – champagne in hand – to snap up a few of the hottest looks for themselves. After parties in fabulous department stores with champagne and credit card in hand are surely the wave of the future. Glamour with a bit of (financial) danger: we likey.

Admittedly, we spent all morning working our hair into those über sleek buns and recreating the Laura Mercier eye (don’t be shy, we know you were doing the same) all the while still foot tapping to DJ Xander’s set and trying not to wallow in the fact that we’ve got another six months until this little shindig happens again. Oh well, you know what they say – good things come to those who wait.

To view images and prices of each look, please click here.

Video courtesy of Tunafish Media.

HarveyNichols.com

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