The Englishness of English dress is a very interesting concept, especially as manifested during London Fashion Week. Although maybe it's the London-ness of London dress, given that most of the star designers come from further afield. Nevertheless they are all the product of the British capitals fashion schools - Central Saint Martins and the Royal College of Art dominated today, Christopher Kane and Giles Deacon of the former, and Erdem and Burberry's Christopher Bailey of the latter.
Part of that Britishness is the disparity of inspiration, the variation of theme, the multifaceted ideas. Look at Christopher Bailey and Christopher Kane: two visions of woman whose only similarity was in their pastel palettes and persuasive power.
![New Zealand model Holly-Rose Emery at Christopher Kane during London Fashion Week. Photo by Jonathan Short/Invision](https://www.nzherald.co.nz/resizer/v2/D7VQIFY57RIL63IVITS3SVJCXA.jpg?auth=6596b740268e0b399031aa33047a8c74f62efe931ae11838f8ae3581666c71b7&width=16&height=25&quality=70&smart=true)
Burberry Prorsum is the largest and loudest example of financial clout on the London fashion week menu. Sometimes that can overpower the clothes, but this season Bailey's delicate theme - the English Rose - was handled with an admirably light hand.
The palette was succulent, Queen Mother shades of primrose, periwinkle and powder pink, cut into swingy cashmere-knit trench coats, slouchy blazers and slender cocktail dresses in chiffon and intricate granny-doily lace. It was deft, despite the heft.