Short cut to summer

Shorts in every permutation - from 1970s-style hotpants to the colonial, Bermuda-variety - dominated the catwalks at London Fashion Week.

High-waisted and belted, or slouchy and slipped to the hips, they offered a fresh and youthful alternative to all the girls who don't fancy the idea of stepping out in a dainty dress or a fitted frock - the other key trend.

Whether safari-style with roomy pockets and worn with waistcoats - as at Topshop Unique's trailblazing show in Berkeley Square - or sexy and suggestive like the lacy French knickers from Paul Smith, this was the short-cut to fun style next season.

Even sequinned disco shorts made a reappearance.

Smith picked up on what Americans call "boyfriend clothes", dressing his models as girlfriends who had snatched comfy, cream cricket sweaters, pastel V-neck vests and grandad bib-front shirts from the masculine wardrobe and teamed them with cute, flared-leg shorts.

Henley-look blazers and lace camisoles came with classic, printed silk boxers that could have been pilfered from the locker-room.

Satin platform ankle-strap shoes and lace shoulder-bags added a quirky feminine touch, while delicate cream lace culottes, worn with body-fit shirts, were a spin on the underwear-as-outwear theme.

At the show by young designer Emma Cook, the shorts look was translated as all-in-one romper suits, while Peter Jensen showed shorts in a subdued navy, blue and white with puffed-sleeve blouses.

Ashish, one of the 19 talents sponsored under the New Generation scheme, took the bling route, showing sporty styles in red, black and gold sequins.

At Eley Kishimoto, shorts even made an appearance as a tailored alternative to the trouser-suit. For weekends and holidays there were shorts in floral-printed silk.