Vitiligo model Winnie Harlow walks in Julien Macdonald's diverse London Fashion Week show

Julien Macdonald is certainly not shy when it comes to showing off the female body. And his AW17 collection showcased today at London Fashion Week was no different.

Set inside the elaborate chandelier-filled Goldsmiths’ Hall, an upbeat soundtrack played out before the show had even began.

It was usual business for Macdonald as revealing look after revealing look appeared on the carpeted catwalk. Webbed knits in shimmering silver and witchy black dominated with all manner of cut-outs appearing on both the mini dresses and the floor-length gowns.

Flashes of vibrant red showed up occasionally on designs that are destined to hit a red carpet in the very near future. Mega thigh-high slits and triangular bra styles also made their debut along with a multitude of barely there looks that required no underwear.

However, it wasn’t really the clothes that struck a chord. It was the casting. Julien’s model line-up consisted of a real range of ethnicities; something that is sorely lacking on the Fashion Week catwalks.

Although only 10 out of 40 models were non-white, this is still major progress in a city that regularly sees all-white catwalks. Along with Asian and lighter-skinned models, Julien had chosen a range of black faces. In an industry that favours light skin over a darker shade, this was truly significant.

Winnie Harlow and Victoria’s Secret model Leomie Anderson both took a turn (with Winnie closing the show hand-in-hand with the designer). A stunning model with a shaved head also strutted purposefully down the runway.

Along with promoting diversity, Macdonald had also integrated a small selection of menswear into the show. Printed knits with a hint of sparkle perfectly matched the womenswear looks with the designer’s tattooed male models looking tougher than ever before.

It was clear that no expense had been spared this season, making for a fun show that had everyone smiling and clapping at the end. A congratulations to Julien Macdonald for making a real effort – not only with his setting but with his overall message.

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