Back on Oxford Street for another Mango sponsored show Osman Yousefzada combined global references with a super sleek silhouette.

Dramatic matador jackets, decorative embroidery, draped sashes and a touch of python all add to the eclectic mix, and while that might all sound a tad scary Osman incorporates each element with great subtlety. Japanese Buddhist temple sculpture was also cited as another major source of inspiration, Osman’s global references may well add up but the finished collection is far from ethnic or obvious.

Structured and fitted; Osman provides tailoring that is super modern and gives it a feminine twist with the odd light frill and draped over-layer. Meanwhile his colour palette ranges from cream, nude and duck egg blue to mauve, slate grey, sapphire blue and black. Models sauntered (and occasionally wobbled) in super high nude stilettos, courtesy of Aldo, teamed with sheer knee-high socks.

As a bashful Osman briefly took to the catwalk for his finale bow the fash pack gave a hearty applause - it seems this guy just gets better with each season. A very polished and balanced collection.

As an aside: Osman has been nominated for the annual Design of the Year 2007 Award at the Design Museum, which features the best 100 designs internationally selected from several design disciplines. His co-nominees in the fashion section are Issey Miyake, Jil Sander, Dior, Giles Deacon, YSL and Pierre Hardy.

By JoJo Iles

Images by Jemima Compton