London Fashion week AW11: Markus Lupfer

Rule one of fashion eventing: provide food and they will come. And so we made our way to the Billiard Room at the Sanderson Hotel to experience the fashion and food delights of Markus Lupfer’s tea party. Lupfer’s witty knits are well known now so step by step he is increasing his offer. Spots and stripes were a bit of a theme, an ongoing one as it happens. “Stripes, spots and stars are something I always have in a collection, we play with those graphic elements every season,” he explained over a brew and a clotted cream scone. I was delighted to spot a polka dotted twinset – matched with spotty tights, naturally. “Why twinsets? I feel it’s about richness, glamour, tradition but keeping it young,” said Lupfer. The overriding inspiration was ‘landscape’ – forest green lace, fox-fur prints, mountain-inspired frosty-looking tweed – and the importance of beautiful but practical dressing. As business savvy as he is creative, Lupfer is a realistic designer; “I like playing with multi-functionality and exploring how you can move your wardrobe into different areas.”



Beauty note: Don’t miss the centre stripe of gold glitter nail polish, a subtle echo of Lupfer’s obsession with metallic and shine…