New York Fashion Week: Temperley London

Hilary Alexander reports from New York fashion week

Spies ‘R’ Us.. After Diane Von Furstenberg singled out Marlene Dietrich as a seductive spy for her fall/winter collerction, London’s Alice Temperley took the sexy secret agent theme even further with a lush, opulent and decadent collection inspired by Mata Hara.

The collection mixed both the military associations of the eras and Ms Hari’s unashamedly ostentatious wardrobe, literally dripping with jewels, embellishment and ornate decoration.

The jewel-box colour palette echoed the rich theme – violet, emerald and limen splashed amongst elegant soft cream, rose and parchment neutrals.

Tulle dresses were encrusted with jewels, with butterfly-wing dresses drenched in glittering sequins. Jewel-encrusted clutches echoed the de luxe after-dark theme of a glamorous femme fatale.

For day, the military inspiration was interpreted in structured knits and softly-tailored or draped separates.