London Fashion Week: Mulberry rules Britannia for autumn/winter 2013

Cara Delevingne and Max, the standard poodle, stormed the Mulberry catwalk in a succession of cropped trousers, oversized puff sleeves and gorgeous statement mohair jumpers that were so chunkily oversized they could easily do duty as coats.

Since acquiring its new CEO last year - ex Hermès MD Bruno Guillon - this popular British label has been single-mindedly re-positioning itself firmly as a luxury brand, whilst retaining its British sense of self-parody .That's not necessarily an easy trick, but Creative Director Emma Hill has the measure of it. The fur is not sable but sheepskin, so thoroughly combed and straightened, and possibly blow-dried, it could fool even a Russian consumer. The bags have been blinged up - but with cute gold daisy-shaped motifs, chic metal handles and cute colours.

IN PICTURES: Mulberry autumn/winter 2013

The rousing chorus of Rule Britannia that serenaded the models down for the finale might have been a jingoistic step too far for some of the international press, but Mulberry's hyper-photogenic front row provided an enjoyable distraction. Lana Del Rey, complete with her eponymous Mulberry bag; Alexa Chung, inspiration behind Mulberry's best selling Alexa bag; Juno Temple, the 2013 winner of Bafta's Rising Star award; Douglas Booth, lush-lipped one time Burberry face who played Pip in the BBC's recent adaptation of Great Expectations; Holliday Grainger, who played Estella in the cinematic one… this is the place for international casting agents to see what young British thesps look like without their period costumes.

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As for the great modelling issue, Emma Hill conceded that since his Mulberry debut last season, Max the poodle had become a bit of a nightmare. "He kept running off to look at himself during the fittings the other night,'' she revealed. Asked whether Max might become the face of the next Mulberry campaign, Hill looked doubtful. "I don't think we could afford him."

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