Front Row at Ricardo Ramos Winter Garden A/W 2013

I've ventured into unfamiliar writing terrain for Never Mind the Chic, sitting front row at the very first Birmingham International Fashion Week (@BHMFashionWeek). Far from monochrome and polished, I'm a wannabe hipster in lilac dyed short sleeved denim from Cow (@WEARECOW) teamed with a burgundy retro satchel from Urban Village. While I will never be accustomed to the finer perks or odd freebie of a poor man's journalistic lifestyle, I'm not going to start complaining about the stunning front row view I had at the Ricardo Ramos (@DLeonbyRR) Winter Garden Autumn/Winter 2013 Collection. 

In an eye-catching 20 strong piece ready-to-wear collection for winter, it was all about the amusing and playful side of multi-cultural fashion at Ricardo Ramos' impressive fashion show. Fantastical floral prints of the foreign with pop block colour trends were rife in an homage to my Nan's fashion on acid. Dresses in flattering jersey cuts and floral décor for a touch of girlishness dazzled on the runway, sophistication teamed with a retro hippie vibe. I loved the simple dark turquoise turtleneck maxi dress with embellished flower waist detail, perfect for the reformed flower child of Woodstock.

Dress coats made a comeback, stylish in block colours and ice cream palettes, with beautiful floral print lining. I became a tweet obsessive (@LamTang) over the heavy focus on coats, with pastel infused delights strutting down one after another. The colours were reminiscent of an Italian ice cream parlour, with interesting waffle cone-esque pleating and bold collar contrasts. The pastel pink and bright raspberry combination with cinched in waist belt detail was elegant yet eccentric, like a country housewife having a mental breakdown in a vat of paint.

With a collection named Winter Garden, I always expected more than the odd embellishment or lining of floral-esque patterns and prints to accommodate my questionable taste. Flower power dressing with a 40s mentality suddenly paraded down the white runway, teaming with luxurious vintage furs draped onto models like hangers. The dark navy draped floral dress with a chestnut fur scarf was the height of drunken sophistication, the eccentric matriarch invited to the dinner ball. The collection from the Madrid Columbian born, Berlin based designer, was womanly glamour with touches of coolness in the brightest colour combinations resembling a neon Neapolitan ice cream.