There’s a lot that men could learn from the ultra-cool Paul Smith woman, who paraded the double catwalk at The Royal Horticultural Halls yesterday.

Models paraded the catwalk with low, slung ponytails and a smug aura about them. If ever there were women to take on the reoccurring masculine feminine battle, these were them.

Crushed plum velvet and enhanced silhouettes contrasted against mannish shaped coats and skin-skimming trousers. Patent loafers with eye-popping coloured socks kept in toe with Smith’s classic androgynous style.

“To be honest, it’s what I know.” Said Smith, when asked backstage about the potent tone of his latest collection, “I feel that at this time in my career I should say this designer can do really unusual things and this designer can do amazing bias cutting but I know what I can do, and that is cut clothes which are tailored. That’s what I studied and that’s what I can do, so I just stick by my guns.

Words: Millie Cotton