LONDON–Knitwear is a natural fit for fall collections, and Pringle parlayed its heritage into a show full of pieces you’ll yearn to cuddle up in come the cold snaps of ’11-12.

Skirts resembling blankets draped around the hips, and a leather dress laser-cut with a fine Fair Isle pattern, stayed with us through the day. Also smart was a petrol blue silk blouse with cape-like panelling that fluttered around the arms.

Later, at the Savoy ballroom for Paul Smith‘s show, it was all about menswear for the girls. Cropped suit trousers, laceless brogues, prefect ties, fashion glasses and mannish blazers were sensual with sheer silk blouses. Wearers will cherish the quiet, special detailing, like the contrasting felt-backed collars and purple satin piping on a pair of gray trouser’s pockets.

About those trousers: they’re good. Very good. Slightly abbreviated and sometimes cuffed, they seemed unfussy and freeing after a rash of restrictive pencil skirts. But what we left wanting was one of Smith’s collarless overcoats.

A trio of black satin looks embroidered with floral motifs was a bit too last-season Christopher Kane to make sense in this collection, but other than that, it had us thinking about raiding husband’s closet… although he’d have to shop at Paul Smith first.

**Photos by Imaxtree.