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London Fashion Week: Tom Ford spring/summer 2013

Chastity and perversity are the twin themes of Tom Ford's spring/summer 2013 collection.

Tom Ford's style certainly polarises opinion these days, between those who find it backward looking and those who regard it as classic. The vote splits as soon as you're ushered through Ford HQ in Victoria and into the lifts by the same breed of chisel-jawed, side parted, uncannily smooth haired flunkies as the ones who used to line the route to the Gucci and Yves Saint Laurent shows a decade ago. All of them, it turns out, hired for the day from a model agency.

Some like the intimacy and the wink to the past (or maybe it's more of a mugging). Others, not so much. "A good journalist friend told me to quit talking at these things," Ford confessed, as he tapped away on his iPad, cueing up the models and controlling the soundtrack.

Naturally being Ford, it wasn't an entirely wordless affair, which is a good thing. The banter is what personalises these presentations. Two words in particular couldn't be dispensed with. "Chastity and perversity," he explained, were the twin themes of this collection.

Chastity came in the guise of camel cashmere sweaters, taupe skirts and long high necked black paper taffeta column dresses; perversity showed up in the form of black patent zip pencil skirts, caped backs, and the multi buckled leather strap, bondage sandal-boots.

There were plenty of what have become classic Ford tropes: backless black fitted chiffon dresses with cupped breasts (very 50 Shades of Grey ) and long, slashed, beaded skirts and skinny pants, updated this time thanks to an injection of sportiness.

Karl Lagerfeld offers his view on ‘sexy’ Carole Middleton

While Chanel creative director Karl Lagerfeld is no great fan of Pippa Middleton, he thinks her mother is 'very sexy'.

Karl Lagerfeld is full of praise for Carole Middleton Photo: REUTERS/ PA

While Chanel creative director Karl Lagerfeld is no great fan of Pippa Middleton, he thinks her mother is 'very sexy'.

While we all know what Karl Lagerfeld makes of the Duchess of Cambridge's sister Pippa Middleton - he famously remarked that she "should show only her back" - he has much admiration for her 57-year-old mother Carole.

"I think Carole is very sexy" he told Grazia. "I think the mother is sexier than the daughters. There is something full of life about her. For a woman who must be 50 or so, I think she's great. She's full of energy."

Not so full of praise: Pippa Middleton. Photo: Getty

The spotlight was on mother of the bride Carole at last year's royal wedding, where she looked elegant amid the royal guests in a powder blue creation by Catherine Walker and especially trim thanks to a rumoured stint on the high-protein Dukan diet.

Duchess Kate and Carole are even known to share clothes, with Kate recently borrowing a royal blue dress by Reiss from her mother's wardrobe for a public outing.

"I Love Kate Middleton" added Lagerfeld. "Kate can try anything. For make-up, she has no limits."

The Duchess of Cambridge. Photo: Reuters

The multi-tasking designer also tried to explain the venomous comments he made towards 28-year-old Pippa. "I only meant I don't think her make-up is right," he said, adding: "she has a roundish face and round eyes and should pick another make-up for the eyes." However he did conclude with: "Her sister's more beautiful."

TOPSHOP to Collaborate with Louise Gray

Topshop have announced a collaboration with fashion designer Louise Gray for their up-coming Autumn make-up collection. The Scot has been a regular on the London Fashion Week circuit since her debut in 2010, and has already made something of a name for herself. 

Notorious for her eclectic use of haphazard prints, clashing textures and a kaleidascope of colours, the collaboration with high street favourite Topshop is a smart match.

'My mainline collections have always been about pushing optimism, colour and fun,' said Gray. 'I want [the Topshop girl] to experiment with the product, be daring and have fun with it.'

The collection will be unveiled in August but for a sneak peak, check out photos of the designer herself because Gray has promised the collection will be 'similar to both the fashion and make-up I wear already.'

Expect playful brights, glitter pots and fluro pops of colour. 

Watch this space...

*Source: MARIE CLAIRE