Purple tartan antlers impress London Fashion shows

By Sarah Marsh

LONDON (Reuters) - Purple tartan antlers, silver armour, and spears regaling models' heads were highlights of the theatrical shows of up-and-coming British designers on Wednesday.

As the venues of London Fashion Week moved away from grand hotels to warehouses, shows took on a more edgy feel.

Tartan was everywhere at the first solo show of Henry Holland's label, House of Holland, at London Fashion Week. There were tartan minikilts, tartan trenchcoats and laced boots.

Loud applause greeted model-of-the-moment Agyness Deyn when she closed the show wearing a tartan layered wedding dress with transparent veil and antlers atop her cropped, blonde hair.

"The whole idea behind the clothes is that they are fun to dress up in -- it's a bit of a laugh really," Holland told Reuters backstage.

Androgyny blurred the catwalk as boy models sported delicate velvet slippers, skinny jeans and long mohair cardigans.

Over at Fashion East, which each season showcases the work of three young designers, the highlight was the customized and recycled collection of the eco-label Noki House of Sustainability (NHS).

A flamboyant flamenco dress was worn as a skirt, with the voluminous sleeves padding the hips, contrasting with a punk top picturing a skull. Jeans were stitched onto grey trousers and panels of clothing were cut away.