With London Fashion Week around the corner, we're all getting excited to see what we'll be wearing next autumn and whether we'll still be paying homage to the 1970s or unearthing something completely different from the depths of our wardrobes.
Sketches from Julian J Smith's A/W 2011 collection. Julian J Smith
We thought we'd go behind-the-scenes with some designers showing at London Fashion Week and get the inside scoop on what their inspirations are this season. While the finished product is what we'll ultimately be wearing (or wishing we were), there's nothing more fascinating than seeing how something that struck the designer's imagination - whether it's Hitchcock's heroines or the Alps - gets transformed into a coveted coat or pair of trousers.
Julian J Smith is a young designer to watch, who's quickly making a name for himself with his graphic prints and celebrity fan club (he's designed costumes for Beth Ditto and Victoria Beckham has been spotted in his designs).
For autumn 2011, "It's about twisted darkness," Smith explains. "Branches, veins and jigsaws are the visual inspiration for the print designs. I was further inspired by blood, tree bark and films like Sleepy Hollow and the Blair Witch Project, which became the starting point for the mood and colour palette."
Judging by the sketches the designer sent us, blood and tree bark never looked so appealing. Julian J Smith is showing as part of On/Off on 19 February.