Aching feet, no time for lunch and a nervous disposition — triggered by the sight of a fashion blogger as he prepares to shove you from your seat... It can only be London Fashion Week.
In a packed schedule of more than 50 shows over six days, nobody could accuse London of being short on ideas.
And while the past four days have been plentiful as far as highlights are concerned — namely, the delicious carrot and coriander soup topped with onion chutney at the Topshop venue and watching an over-excited Carine Roitfeld clapping frantically at Mark Fast — it is, of course, the clothes that we will remember most fondly. At least, once our blisters have healed.
So what to expect for 2011? Simple. All things Seventies. That's right, while the high street is occupied with cute Fifties-inspired prom dresses and sweetie-coloured sweaters, next season they'll be going for all-out Seventies-style glamour.
Carrying on from Marc Jacobs's homage to Studio 54, as unveiled in New York last week, London has given us psychedelic prints, vivacious colour by the shed-load and the opportunity to reinstate Beverly from Abigail's Party as our style icon.
Think suede boot-leg trousers, billowing jumpsuits and gigantic hair. And if the thought of donning a pair of bell-bottoms — designed by Matthew Williamson or not — strikes the fear of god into you, don't despair:
London's designers had an array of tricks up their sleeves. From floaty knife-pleats as seen at House of Holland and Antonio Berardi to swinging fringing and mind-blowingly beautiful embroidery as seen at Christopher Kane, the future's looking very bright indeed.
