Ozwald Boateng closes LFW

Nineteen years is a long time in fashion: 1991 was the year of Global Hypercolor, flannel shirts and (rather more fondly remembered) British menswear designer Ozwald Boateng’s last show in London.

Times have certainly changed, but fashion is cyclical so one of them is due a comeback. Don’t worry, it’s not the colour-changing cotton.

To celebrate 25 years in the business, celebrated Savile Row tailor Boateng returned to the capital’s catwalks to close this year’s London Fashion Week. And it was worth the near two-decade-long wait.

The sartorial extravaganza, which took place last night (22 September), featured 100 models, 1,000 guests and a specially created fragrance that was pumped into the venue. And for those not lucky enough to get inside the Odeon, Leicester Square, screens were erected outside to transmit the show live.

Boateng’s decision to reveal his Spring/Summer 2011 and current autumn collections, which starts at £1,195 for a ready-to-wear suit, in such a way is also a high-profile boost to the British Fashion Council’s initiative to have the last day of London Fashion Week exclusively focus on menswear. You can see Boateng (inset) talk about his fashion memoirs and his return to London exclusively on ShortList.com. And let’s hope he doesn’t leave it so long next time.

Read our interview with Ozwald Boateng, right here.