Those murky clouds begin to lift, the cobwebs of winter's gloom are blown away and slowly, slowly, that sunlight creeps through dusty windows as the eternal hope of springtime blooms once more. And while spindly branches give way to delicate blossom we all fling our wardrobes open in despair at what possible tales there are left to tell with the tired contents that stare back bleakly. Summer stretches out before us like the crisp pages of an untold tale and we all cry out for inspiration lest the characters of summers past dwell on our person once more. Cast aside the perennial boredom of safari tailoring and "ethnic" prints and come take a peek at new inspiration for S/S 09.

MARY POPPINS BOHEMIA

Enchanting figures of old world charm stride with the arrogance of cats, content in a world of their own creation. A painted realm of witchcraft and mismatched colours, of costume jewels and prim eccentricity. Aristocratic ladies dance til first light in Parisian dance halls while Mary Poppins wreaks havoc at pristine tea parties. Polished ladies are let loose in dressing up boxes, infatuated with boys from the wrong side of town, speak out of turn and never, ever match their shoes to their bags. Luella's psychedelic grandmothers clutch ribbons and bows while Marc Jacob's army of mis-matched Americana sip gin from teacups. Like a Henry James heroine tumbling down the rabbit hole, wear plaid with polka dots, straw boaters with purple lipstick and crash most every party that you can.

On model: Hat, top and skirt Marc Jacobs, shirt by Luella

SKELETAL BALLERINAS

Winter's dark warriors hold firm but soften in springtime's breeze; strong shoulders and sculptured silhouettes are sun bleached like the pages of a horror book left out on an eerily sunlit day. Black armor gives way to skeletal structure, black magic to dancer's grace. Sheer pinks and nudes bristle like dead leaves bound in studs and chains as a fragile dancer grows melancholy and strange. Rodarte's poetic robots dance silently alongside the fringed spectres of Jil Sander, while the eerie silhouettes of Armand Basi One look on moodily. Let chiffon and lace peek from under inky leather, bind delicate pink with tarnished black, wear fragile dresses with warrior shoes and find a whispered strength for sun-bleached days.

On model: Dress by Rodarte

HIDE AND SEEK SWEETSHOP

The childlike simplicity of cut out shapes piece together like a pretty, pretty jigsaw. Geometric silhouettes in ice cream colours are like French fancies made of crisp fabrics, light as air. Pastel hued chiffons and silks play peek-a-boo with naïve charm. Richard Nicoll's colour blocking fades through spring-fresh hues while Christopher Kane's circles act like precious paper armour. Spring clean your clutter and abandon prints and jewels for shapes that do all the talking. Undermine dignified silhouettes with girlish colours - because it's all just playing, really.

On model: Top by Richard Nicoll, skirt by Christopher Kane

DARWINIAN BLOOM

Quiet botanical illustrations creep out from dusty books as black and white seeps into a world of painted colour. Strange creatures evolve from flora and fauna while kaleidoscopic prints play off carnal instinct. Victorian florals and peeling petals from Erdem play out like an antique illustration of springtime while at Christopher Kane gorillas roar from dresses that command the feral strength of nature. Team leopard prints with florals, blooming chiffon with feral fur and evolve your own sartorial creature....

On model: Dress by Erdem

Story and artwork by Katy Smail.