From Vogue Webiste: Edwardiana Drama

From: http://www.vogue.co.uk/fashion/trends/2012-13-autumn-winter/edwardiana

FOLLOWING a summer buoyed with patriotic events – the Diamond Jubilee, the long awaited Olympic Games, the launch of London Collections: Men – our love of Britain extends into winter with a trend that plays on our affection for Edwardian England via rich, sumptuous fabrics and dramatic accessories.

There is little that elicits romantic nostalgia quite like a steam engine, which is exactly what Marc Jacobs used as the backdrop to his Louis Vuitton autumn/winter 2012-13 show, where models were escorted down the catwalk by porters carrying their Gladstone bags – quickly crowned as the bag shape of the season, having also cropped up at Prada and at Ralph Lauren in a miniature version.

Meanwhile, velvet jacquards and brocade were shown in navy, violet and black by Gucci and Emporio Armani, while Ralph Lauren and Burberry riffed on the tweeds and wools used extensively in the outdoor leisure pursuits of the upper classes – horse riding, shooting, fishing. And of course there were gowns – such as Marchesa’s delicate gold lace and Alice Temperley’s intricately embroidered floor-sweeping skirts.

While the origins of this trend may be rooted in history, it should be interpreted with a little artistic license this winter to keep things up to date – this is not about playing a part in your own costume drama. Focus on details to bring the trend to life; equestrian-style collars – as seen at Giles, Cacharel and Carven – bring a sense of formality to outerwear, while gloves should be elbow length as worn by models at Louis Vuitton and Roberto Cavalli.