Designers trumpet warmth at LFW

A London Fashion Week preview on Monday saw models draped in colours like bronze, brass, chocolate and caramel.

Designers trumpeted warmth Monday at a London Fashion Week preview with models draped in silk and muslin taking to the catwalk splashed in bronze, brass, chocolate and caramel.

Models showed off a variety of short skirts, shorts and dresses from the 2008 spring-summer collections of Jasper Conran and Marios Schwab, Best New Designer at the British Fashion Awards.

John Rocha's show was a clash of black, mustard, and rose, while Basso & Brooke took a high-tech approach to land their "paint" creations. The talk of the event was the return of British sensation Luella Bartley - known simply by her first name - who presented her first collection in London after a six-year absence.

The young designer, popular among celebrities including supermodel Kate Moss, moulded punk with classical British garb. Her choice of London, which meant she bypassed New York, coincided with the opening of her first fashion boutique in the British capital.

London Fashion Week, which kicked off on Saturday and runs till Thursday, includes about 50 shows in its official programme.