A regal front row at Temperley London

For the second consecutive season, designer Alice Temperley welcomed her gang into the soaring surrounds of the British Museum’s grand atrium. After the opulence of the A/W ’11 show, the designer presented a sleek, languid collection of clothes centred on the theme of ‘Grace’.

Whatever your interpretation, these clothes had it: a long, pistachio-hued silk crepe dress balanced a keyhole neckline with crystal- and pearl-embellished shoulder straps; a gardenia-strewn, cape-backed jumpsuit worn with a turban-like head wrap looked ready for martinis on the Hotel du Cap terrace. A super ivory silk chiffon blouse (the Bette Top, modelled by Erin Fee) had rows of buttons down both sleeves, undone to reveal just the correct sliver of shoulder while the loops did double-duty as scalloping on the side.

It’s hard to say how much of the collection was calculated to appeal to the Duchess of Cambridge, a loyal client. Regardless, royal sister Pippa caused a bona fide sensation by making her first LFW appearance at this show, no doubt sent to compile a shopping list. With minor styling changes and a few extra stitches to make thigh slashes more modest, many pieces in this collection could be palace-ready—particularly a neat ivory silk and black satin-yoked blouse, and the long navy-blue silk crepe dress with a contrast pintuck bib. Shop wisely, young Pippa. The next queen’s style reputation could rely on it.

See the full collection here