Designer A-Z

Erdem

Autumn/Winter 2010

By Carrie Gorman

On a day that saw models at several shows take a tumble on the runway, one glance up at Erdem's steep marble staircase that models had to negotiate in 5 inch heels made you worry.

1 of 32

/var/elleuk/storage/images/catwalk/collections/erdem/autumn-winter-2010/collection/erdem-rf10-9151-erdem-london-autumn-winter-2010/4487893-1-eng-GB/erdem-rf10-9151_CC.jpg iMAXTREE
/var/elleuk/storage/images/catwalk/collections/erdem/autumn-winter-2010/collection/erdem-rf10-9141-erdem-london-autumn-winter-2010/4487900-1-eng-GB/erdem-rf10-9141_CC.jpg iMAXTREE
/var/elleuk/storage/images/catwalk/collections/erdem/autumn-winter-2010/collection/erdem-rf10-9175-erdem-london-autumn-winter-2010/4487879-1-eng-GB/erdem-rf10-9175_CC.jpg iMAXTREE
/var/elleuk/storage/images/catwalk/collections/erdem/autumn-winter-2010/collection/erdem-rf10-9164-erdem-london-autumn-winter-2010/4487886-1-eng-GB/erdem-rf10-9164_CC.jpg iMAXTREE

But as soon as the first flower-scattered cape and floral patchwork silk dress arrived, you felt serenely enchanted by the design power of Erdem.

With Samantha Cameron on the front row (more notebooks please, Smythson) and Sarah Brown a regular supporter, the label is becoming the British First Ladies preferred designer. An autumnal palette of ocher, teal, rust, and tan was used for his prints, with a deep grey on lace dresses. Leather patchwork skirts were worn with a sheer floral blouse and a spine-tingling moment came from his exceptional floor-length gowns.

Erdem manages to design the prettiest, most feminine dresses without ever being twee. It's no wonder he has taken home the Best British Designer award at the ELLE Style Awards.