Leave it to veteran London designer Margaret Howell to offer up a clean, fresh view of summer dressing that is as apparently effortless as it is elegant. Showing in a no-frills contemporary space on London’s South Bank early this morning, this quietly accomplished designer sent out neat separates in black, white, red and sandy shades and in lightweight fabrics from crisp cottons to fine linens and crumpled silks.
The woman who wears Margaret Howell prefers her footwear flat, worn with little black ankle socks or sun-kissed, honey-coloured legs bared. Few do a simple sandal, narrow brogue or, this season, tiva better – the latter complemented more subtle sporty touches throughout and elasticated belts snaking around narrow waists in particular.
High-waisted trousers tapered and cropped at the ankle looked good as did starched, short-sleeved shirts buttoned up to the throat with pointy collars. Add to the mix lightweight windcheaters and raglan sleeved raincoats – both much-loved signature by now - fine-gauge knit cardigans, shorts thigh-high or Bermuda, straight, knee-length skirts sitting low on the hips and quite the finest shirtwaisters and here was a wardrobe aimed at a confident and minimally-minded woman who loves fashion but would rather not shout that from the rooftops.
It is hard to imagine one any better.