Roving Reporter: PPQ

Talk about close quarters. Amy Molyneaux and Percy Parker hosted the PPQ show in Burlington Arcade, and between paparazzi clogging the aisle trying to get shots of Nicola Roberts (in harlequin-print Moschino) and Alexa Chung, and Hilary Alexander and Colin McDowell rushing through a space where one crossed ankle could mean you get tripped, it was a miracle only one person was carried out with an injured leg.

That aside, the show had the typical quirk that will keep the brand popular with offbeat musicians, models/ever-present socialites (talking to you, Chung!) and London eccentrics. Daisy Lowe started the show with a colour-blocked, long-sleeved mini dress, and Pixie Geldof stomped out in red hot pants and a matching ruffled turtleneck. As expected, brand friend Alice Dellal also put in an appearance.

The 'Proletariat Chic' collection moved everywhere from metallic-stripe jumper sets to full-length jersey 'I Love Peas' dresses to Victorian-influenced, lace-collared minis, but my favourite look was a yellow-checked wool wrap coat worn with high-waisted, cornflower-blue jeans and a vintage-look tee.

This, plus an after-party at Cafe de Paris and a bottle of sherry to take home put me in a good mood for the cab ride to my flat. Or maybe it was the chili and passion fruit shots and the abundance of cocktails. Either way.

Seen and Overheard: PPQ party

Scene: In the queue outside Cafe de Paris on Coventry Street

Bouncer: "Where are you going?"
Fashion person: "We're waiting to go into the party. They should know us"
Bouncer: "I don't know you. You haven't been here all this time. People have ben queuing up for a long time. Go and join the queue all the way at the back round the corner"

I didn't know waiting in the cold for a party could be so fun!

Bring on tonight!

Seen and Overheard

"I've given my assistant all of the off schedule shows to do this evening. I've got to get to the PPQ party on time" said an editor in the media centre today.

It's official. The PPQ party at Cafe de Paris tonight is the biggest most anticipated party of the season.

Come back for pictures and more seen and overheard from the party tomorrow

Roving Reporter : Charlotte Ronson

This is one hell of a talented family! When Mark and Sam aren't lighting up the world of music (producing and DJing respectively), sister Charlotte is rocking NYC with her edgy fashion label. It's been great to see collections by the likes of Acne and Ronson, who seem to be bringing a new vibe to New York Fashion Week.

To me, Donna Karen and Calvin Klein sum up NY fashion: simple but sophisticated, in easy to wear shades. But with these new kids on the block, the party scene is beginning to show through, and it definitely has a rock-chick feel.

As with so many collections for A/W09, there is an 80s vibe coming through. Unlike the neon trends of past summers, this 80s comeback is harder and more rock-couture than neon-pop. With black lips and high ponytails, the styling seemed to have been borrowed from the early Madonna years.

There were leather staples in the form of a well tailored, skinny blazer with matching skinny-cut trousers; the tassels of the past year seem to be sticking around again (great for the recession).

Eighties leotards (think Fame) were referenced through jersey tops with huge cut-out sections (a la Rachel Roy), teamed with high-waisted, skater skirts. I loved this look - it was so Madonna, with a touch of council-estate chic (but in a good way).

The whole collection looked like it was based on Sam Ronson's wardrobe, as the more girly pieces left the runway (maybe that was the LiLo selection). The models were then clad in tartan trousers with a slight peg-leg cut, sheer shirting and prim cardigans that were delicately studded to take a rebellious spin on the twinset.

There was plenty of print too - one of my favourite pieces was a simple black shift dress with slightly curved, exaggerated shoulders and a skeleton-like print across sections. Very wearable and little bit rock-chick couture (my preferred look).

The further I got into the collection, the more convinced I became that we are to see a switch to the darker side of the 80s this fall. Ronson sent down the most outrageous jumpsuit. It was beautifully cut. Big, 80s shoulders, nipped-in waist, slightly volumised hips and with tapering at the ankle. This beauty was definitely one of the lynch pins of the collection. While not easily wearable (after all, it was marooned-based floral print, accented with blue, coral and yellow), there was something totally lovable about this crazy look.

When Charlotte wasn't looking to the 80s, she had evidently taken her time machine back to the 20s, as there were some great 20s-deco appliques. My particular penchant was for this skirt. The look had a little bit of PPQ about it. Total grown-up sophistication and glamour, but with a hint of rebellion - which lets face it, is why we love all the Ronsons. But right now, it's all about Charlotte!