Photos: Imaxtree

This afternoon in Milan, Miuccia Prada sent out a darling spring collection. It was easy, feminine, and very playful. She accessorized the runway with styrofoam cars and carried the “Greased Lighting” theme onto flame-covered dresses and shoes. The turbo engine heels will be everywhere come spring, as will the ladylike frame bags and pleated chiffon skirts, but we just want to know who will be first to turn one of the bejeweled leotards into an everyday outfit. There’s not quite enough fabric to qualify as a romper, and they’re a smidge longer than Dolce & Gabbana‘s spring bodysuits, so we know someone will deem it daylight appropriate—and that someone will definitely be a fashion week go-er. The only question is, who will do it first?

Photo: Prada

In fifteen minutes Prada’s homepage will change from the above image into a live stream of their spring summer 2012 runway show. Or, more accurately, a live stream of people arriving and taking their seats—the show will probably start closer to 12:30. And sure, almost everyone live streams their show these days, but if there’s one you want to catch, it’s Prada. But if you haven’t grabbed your lunch, run!

And now for our round up of favorite looks from the London runways. From the outrageous to the pretty, here are 10 dresses, suits, and prints that lit up the catwalk in true London fashion.

Kanye West & Sienna Miller front row at Burberry. Photo: Getty Images

Milan fashion week started yesterday but there are so many things set to happen in Paris—Dior! Kanye!—that it’s hard not to be impatient for the final leg of fashion month. There may be nothing left to debate on the Marc Jacobs to Dior rumors, but there’s still plenty of gossip swirling around Kanye West’s runway debut. The man’s been talking about fashion, and his own collection, for years. So now that it’s actually happening, that there’s a real show with invitations and proper PR and a Paris Fashion Week time slot, people are excited!  What do we know so far? West is collaborating with Katie Eary. The young Brit got her start in menswear but debuted women’s clothes at her spring 2012 show in London yesterday. She told ELLE UK that she’s been working with the rapper for four months, “I absolutely love working with him…He’s such a dedicated designer. It’s not what everybody would think—he’s more dedicated than I am. The time and the travel that he puts in is unbelievable. I feel jealous at his commitment.” West sat front row at her show, which earned great reviews. The show is being styled by Kesh. The designer and artist posted this on her blog: “BACK IN LONDON. WORKING WITH KANYE. ALL I CAN SAY IS. MAYBACHS AND MODELS.” Fashionista mentions that Kesh and Kanye might even be dating. West is feeling samurai. Grazia‘s “insider” doesn’t know about Kesh or Katie Eary (instead, they report he’s working with a slew of Central St. Martin’s designers) but they do know something about the theme. It’s “Seemingly based on Samurai, with lots of sporty garments, but in luxury fabrics, with embellishment, embroidery—Japanese stuff—gold chainmail, that sort of sports-luxe thang [sic], and unsurprisingly, lots of hoods, baseball/biker jacket shapes…” So, are you excited?

Invest in a Chi now if you haven’t yet: according to the runways, you’ll be spending a lot of quality time with your straightener. One of the biggest hair trends coming out of New York is sleek, flat-ironed hair—even on ponytails. So if you’re one to keep up with the latest looks, you can forget any association the pony’s held with slept-through-the-alarm, didn’t-have-time-to-do-my-hair convenience. But for all the extra work, at least no one came blame you for being lazy. For each of these ponies, use a smoothing cream or serum to make your hair easier to work and style, and don’t forget a spritz of hair spray before you head out!

Photo: Madewell

Madewell‘s hosted a big bash in LA last night to kick off their Alexa Chung for Madewell collection. The clothes—and shoes, hats and scarves—will hit most Madewell stores today at 6PM, but it’s already online. The whole collection went live this morning and we’re guessing the pineapple print silk PJs (top at left) will sell out first (or the leopard print booties!). It doesn’t look any less cute than it did in the formal Chung-styled lookbook, but you can get a closer look before clicking buy. Only one outfit is a repeat from Chung’s inaugural Madewell collection last fall—the white silk tea dress with little black polka dots. So if you missed out last year, you’re in luck!

D&G's last collection, for spring 2012. Photo: Getty Images

This morning, before staging their D&G runway show, designers Stefano Gabbana and Domenico Dolce made a not-so-surprising announcement—it’d be their last. Rumors of D&G’s end came as early as last spring, but the collection won’t quite die. Instead, the designers said they’d work D&G-like pieces into their eponymous collection to give “even more strength and energy to our collections.” D&G’s been profitable, so it’s not folding out of financial necessity, but like WWD suggests it gives the designer more time and energy to spend on their mainline, Dolce & Gabbana. The last collection was on trend for spring with bright mixed prints, peplumed skirts, hot pants and awesome, scarf-like shoes. 

Click here to see all the spring collections!

Photo: Starbucks

Of all the collaborations, is this the most unexpected? The CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund has given its winner the chance to (or asked them to?) design a few t-shirts for Starbucks in honor of the coffee chain’s 40th birthday. Alexander Wang, Sophie Theallet, and Billy Reid each whipped up a limited-edition t-shirt based on their “own experience with Starbucks.” Alexander Wang embraced caffeine jitters: “The first thing we thought of was what everyone tries to avoid—spilled coffee on a t-shirt,” he said. “This turned into the design, hoping people would have fun with it.” Sophie Theallet “was inspired by the global community and all the connections involved around a cup of Starbucks coffee,” while Billy Reid looked to the archives. “We were inspired by the iconic images and American success story of Starbucks over the past 40 years,” he said. “We wanted a certain broken-in quality that looks great worn inside out, is a bit antiqued in spirit, and ready for wear immediately.” The limited-edition t-shirts launched today and are being sold for $85 at StarbucksStore.com and selection Nordstrom locations.

Rodger Berman & Rachel Zoe arrive at Tom Ford's dinner last night. Photo: Getty Images Tom Ford showed his spring summer collection in London last night and, for the first time since he launched his eponymous collection a year ago, the reviews don’t all rave.  Critics agree on Ford’s lack of interest in minimalism, his celebration of a woman’s shape, and his unmatched desire for an almost old-fashioned, put together glamour, but some question the energy of last night’s show and wonder if maybe, he missed something this time around.  Below, a few examples of each. Lisa Armstrong, The Telegraph “In fact there were moments when you found all your taste certainties being pulverised. But that’s not a bad thing. Ford is no minimalist (though who knew he had such a crush on purple?) and the heavy garnishing will go down well with all the stylists who were already mentally reserving what they’ll shoot. Fashion needs its agitators. Customers—and there are plenty looking for an alternative to fashion’s pastel, sporty colour blocking crazes next season—will find plenty. Those perforated leather skirts for starters, the leather bombers (worn with silk or leather jogging pants) and the guipure lace.” Jess Cartner-Morley, The Guardian “I’m going to come straight out with it. Deep breath: I didn’t think Tom Ford’s show was all that. Not that it was awful, by any means, but despite the beautiful tailoring and the immaculate execution it fell a little flat. It felt too self-referential. Too many frills and too few new ideas. There were gorgeous, curvy, super vamp dresses that I loved, but the flouncy peasant blouses and corset belts seemed like a Guilty Pleasures version of Tom Ford.” Cathy Horyn, The New York Times “Mr. Ford’s show was thoroughly Tom Ford in its sex appeal and silhouette—tigress hair, smoky eyes, glossy lips, taut skirts and strappy high heels. The collection was loaded up with great day clothes, including loosely laced Moroccan blouses, fringed skirts and some simple but gorgeous dresses with ruching or a belt at the waist and a bubbled hem.”  Though she failed to come down on one side or the other, Horyn devoted 75% of her story to newcomer Thomas Tait and gave Ford a mere paragraph at the bottom. Rachel Zoe, Twitter “I can’t breathe from The Tom Ford presentation..there r no words for his genius..xoRZ”