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Tom Ford put his stamp on London Fashion Week with a rare catwalk show tonight held in the elegant confines of Lancaster House in St. James, a mere rhinestone's throw from Buckingham Palace.
In the last few years, Ford has made a tentative return to London - one of his several home bases - with a series of exclusive, invitation-only presentations, but today marked the first full-fledged London catwalk show of the Tom Ford brand.
Of course he did it Ford style, in an elegant 'royal home' typically used for international diplomatic conferences, not fashion shows. Those with coveted invitations had to wait in the cold and show their passports or other IDs to satisfy royal security requirement before they could be let into the hallowed halls.
Vogue editor Anna Wintour and singer-actor Justin Timberlake - who is currently collaborating with the designer - sat side by side in the front row, with chandeliers and gold-painted ceilings overhead.
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Feminine and flattering: Sequins and lace abounded, while jackets offered high neck collars and dramatic shapes
Ford draws a more elegant crowd than many other of the London Fashion Week designers: Many men wore beautifully cut suits and carefully chosen pocket squares, while women wore black outfits set off by exquisite jewels.
Everyone seemed content to sip Laurent Perrier champagne or gin and tonics while Ford let the start of the show slip from late to fashionably late. But, when it began, it was worth waiting for.
Inky black spider-web lace was worked into skirts long and short, with the dark fabric set off by brightly coloured sequined jackets. Elsewhere, the contrast was turned on its head, with a black jacket brought to life by an explosion of vivid sequins stitched in a floral motif on a pair of trousers.
Ford also made use of leopard-printed coats and bright pink fur (faux?) and - in a nod to the 1960s - soft black leather jackets with fringes in the back.
Other outfits emphasised a basic colour palette of black and white in interesting contrasts, playing on a zebra-striped theme.
The outfits were demure without being dull, feminine and flattering without being twee (never a word you'd hear mentined in the same breath as Tom Ford, that's for sure).
Ford, who keeps homes in London, Los Angeles and Santa Fe, made a brief appearance at the end of the show, wearing one of his signature slim-cut black suits and giving his fans a wave.
The general consensus? London hopes Tom is here to stay.
Confident: Ford was bold in his use of colour and folkloric floral motifs, and used sequins and crystals to create vibrant patterns on silk
Graphic: A monochrome palette ran through the show like a seam, grounding the brights
Making a statement: No one could accuse Tom Ford of being a shrinking violet
Showtime: Lace dresses had a Ziggy Stardust-style burst of colour while inky black was set off by an explosion of colour
Prints charming: Big, exotic blooms and flamingos in flight brought blue and indigo silks to life
Wild side: Tom's collection was given animal edge with flashes of leopard and fur
Beautiful creatures: Jessica Biel and Justin Timberlake attend the Tom Ford show tonight. RIGHT: Man of the moment Tom Ford greets the crowd at the end of his show
Behind the scenes: The model line up backstage
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