CORRIE NIELSEN'S SS13 FLORILEGIUM COLLECTION

The Show: Corrie Nielsen in the Somerset House Show Space, Friday 14th at 2pm

On the FROW: Hilary Alexander and Victoria Beckham's parents (not sure why either...)

LFF’s fashion friends in attendance: Bloggers Katie- Glass of Fashion, Sarah- Fashion Dotty, Pearl- Pearls of Wisdom and Florrie- Instrically Florrie

Anyone that has been lucky enough to visit Kew Gardens on balmy, hot summers day will know it is a truly magical experience. This proved to be the case for designer Corrie Nielsen, who was so inspired by a trip to London’s Royal Botanic Gardens that she based her SS13 ‘Florilegium’ collection on the florals, fauna and architecture she discovered there.For the spectator like myself, Nielsen’s botanical vision lead to a fantastical show experience, complete with a wildlife soundtrack that would have not sounded out of place on a David Attenborough documentary.

Like many designers at LFW SS13, Nielsen adopted a pared-down colour palette for her new season collection, citing the inner parts of petals as her inspiration for the delicate blushes, oyster and faint blue/greens that coloured the garments. One singular dress in the blackest of the blacks contrasted against the washed-out tones, which explored Nielsen's interest in the black lily that contrasted against the otherwise delicate-hued flowers at Kew.

For me the real ‘wow’ factor of the accomplished collection was delivered through the volume and proportions of the garments; I still can’t figure out how the rectangular black dress that appeared to be made from three concertinaed pleats of fabric was constructed. Of course there are pieces in the collection that are neither commercial nor wearable and I do wonder who the typical Corrie Nielsen customer is, but where this show lacked wearability it delivered in terms of theatre, skill and sheer spectacle.