30.08.2013- Next Christmas 2013

About a month or so ago, Sarah and I popped along a to a very special Next Christmas in July event in Bloomsbury Square. Whilst it might seem slightly incongruous to be thinking about Christmas whilst we're enjoying a last burst of summer sunshine, there's no doubt that the festive season will be here before we know it. You might remember that last year I had a little bit of a panic with last minute present purchasing, so I'm determined not to let the same thing happen again and have already put together a list of who I need to buy for alongside a couple of gift ideas each. With this in mind, it was lovely to get into the festive spirit by having a look at the range of fashion and interior collections which will be making their way into Next stores over the coming months, and the amazing fashion show which the team laid on offered the perfect slice of new season inspiration: 

As an extension of the fashion stories seen at their AW13 press day, Next's festive offerings combined seasonal staples such as statement coats and heritage inspired chunky knits with more opulent eveningwear. Not only was is really lovely to see a crisp, fresh colour palette, but it was really refreshing to look at the variety of textures on display, with the core pieces all offering a really tangible take on autumn and winter style. In terms of eveningwear, a lot of jacquard detailing caught my eye, as well as a selection of pieces which evoked classic elegance through incorporation of embellished detailing and lace accents. It was also great to see a lot of two piece sets being offered as contrasting alternatives to dresses- especially after I opted to make a trouser suit one of my staples last festive season. Statement accessories were also in abundance, with yet more super-covetable necklaces and eye-catching earrings offering the ideal updates for a lot of current winter favourites.
 

 

After looking at the collections, we were then given a real treat- a catwalk show presenting some of AW13's hero pieces. Not only was the cast of models super stellar (Jourdan Dunn, anyone?!), but it was really great to see the new season collection really come to life in motion, against a beautifully constructed backdrop and to the sound of a perfectly put together mix (Haim and Daft Punk on the same playlist? I'm sold!) Incorporating a distinctly British feel with tartans, checks and tweeds, the core daywear looks were styled with real vintage flair and featured a splash of punk sensibility. A series of eveningwear looks saw dresses artfully juxtaposed with more androgynous tailoring, all indicating a real return to seamless style simplicity for the coming season.

Finally, homeware. As well as a really creative series of seasonal accent accessories, Next have put together a winter collection underscored by the cosy factor- something which we all actively seek out when the chillier weather descends. Baking accessories, subtle furnishings and vivid injections of colour are punctuated by an array of festive finishes- including dining pieces which would prove perfect for entertaining, hints of sparkle and more than a few nods to a certain red-nosed reindeer...

What do you think of Next's Christmas collections?

(Image credit: Sarah Farrell, please do not reproduce without permission.)