Champagne for breakfast, air kissing and the latest frocks made out of latex and clingfilm — no, it's not just another day at the office, it's London Fashion Week.

The return of shoulder pads and lashings of animal print — yes, tribal is back.

Highlights?

Well, don't send your leopard-print to the charity shop just yet — the animal print that has adorned models for the past few seasons is still going strong, as is black and white.

And if the colour of money is looking a little washed-out at the moment then fear not, for there is also a turbo charged blast of rainbow colour.

Block shades of emerald, blue, fluorescent yellow, pinks, violet and scarlet made their way down the darkened catwalk in defiance of the doom and gloom of recession.

Bigger is also most definitely better, but rather than a repeat of the shoulder pads as seen in Dynasty, this time around the top of the arm has been given a space-age feel with pointy capped sleeves.

When it comes to textures, anything goes. Mix and match fabrics were all over the catwalks, adding depth and drama to every show.

Velvet and leather were everywhere, with fur and brocade also making an appearance.

High shine, metallics and PVC also made appearances.

It's crazy and outrageous.

But is it wearable?

Siobhan Nolan Farmer, who is the buyer and manager for women's wear at style store Jones in Mumbles, says one thing London Fashion Week does not give us is dull, safe, trends.

"The shows are closer to theatre than the catwalk, and there are often some far from sellable designs,'' she adds.

"But that's what makes it relevant and unique. Fashion retail would be very bland without it.

"When I read about the designers' new season on the front pages of the newspapers and glossy magazines throughout London Fashion Week, I often wonder who is going to buy and wear these outlandish designs?

"Well, apart from Grace Jones, Graham Norton and Madonna, no-one, is the answer.

"The designer does not expect to sell these one-off, extremely expensive to produce and over dramatic designs.

"Instead, they use them to secure as much publicity as possible, to promote the brand in order for us to get to know the name. And it works.

"Christopher Kane, Alexandra McQueen, Gareth Pugh and new- comer Mark Fast are a few of the radicals.

"The reality is most designers have a ready- to-wear collection which is designed for the shopfloor, and is packed with highly wearable, beautiful quality, commercial clothes that really do make it onto our shop rails, but which have still been influenced by the catwalk pieces.

" Without London Fashion Week's drama and clever designers, we wouldn't have the British high street fashion we have today.''