Margaret Howell Womenswear S/S11

Classically Margaret Howell, the spring summer collection is, as ever, easy yet refined. Howell's palette this season relied heavily on soft hues, light cream, beige, and the ever present nude tones, occasionally shot through with black. A beautiful deep blue was used in gradation stripes,  standing out against the simplicity of the rest of the collection, and complementing the other pieces classic feel. Walking down the runway, hosted in Howell's own store on Wigmore Street, her girls wore clothes clearly inspired by the 30s and 40s beach wear, including stiff white cotton cropped shirts, oversized button down sleeveless shirt dresses and softly cut two pieces with elegant pleated shorts. With the show tellingly accompanied by a soundtrack reminiscent of lounging somewhere in the south of France, the mood for Howell this summer is very much young, sophisticated, elegant and relaxed.