Erdem Edges Ahead

Erdem was arguably the show-stealing presentation at this week's London Fashion Week. In fact, from the first pleated, knee-length, black-lace party dress, dramatized by a teal-colored satin funnelneck, to the multi-hued, Swarovski crystal-encrusted bodice of the purple taffeta finale gown, Erdem Moralioglu only hit high notes. The rich fabrics, proper prints, and top-notch production of a tight group of event dresses made Erdem's collection feel like one you'd see on the runways of Milan.

Though it would require an incredibly assured woman to pull them off, the collection's full silhouettes and hazy prints—combining saturated yellows, olives, and purples—were very wearable. Throw in the laced-back and rosette-strewn trench coats the designer develops as a part of an ongoing collaboration with Mackintosh, and Erdem is leading the pack on London's competitive fashion calendar.

—Jason Campbell