Show Report: Halpern S/S 19 Womenswear

Michael Halpern can do more than sequins. Today, whilst we saw a series of garments that proved this to unflinching effect, we also saw that this designer's not quite ready to give up the ghost.

Set to a backdrop and carpet in Derek Jarman blue, cropped PVC jackets in light pink and white were layered over graphic dresses. Skirts had trains that flowed behind the models as they languidly moved around the catwalk. The line between modesty and revelation was toed as many dresses were finished with hoods, whilst certain skirts grazed the asses of the girls inside them.

Sequins were present, in muted tones to start, then soft golds. We saw bold stripes and Halpern's signature two-tone pants. Fishnet tights also sparkled with limpet-like clusters of sequins, erratic lego blocks stuck to the leg.

In the final looks, poppy, primary-coloured pixels in bold, blow-up sizes took the form of a repeated print on trousers, a cut-out shift dress and a skirt with a side train. Here, it felt like Halpern had lost his way a little. Paired with the sequin trousers, one outfit looked, at best, like an afterthought, at worst, an adventure into blindly bad taste. This print jarred with the rest of the collection; it was a risk that didn't pay off.

That being said, one light blue dress made me catch my breath. Reflective fabric draped and piled onto the shoulder cascaded down the back. Paired with lime green Christian Louboutins, this dress was at once classic and instantly contemporary. I want to see more of this from Michael Halpern. He's shown he can, and I hope next season he can deliver.