Nina Ricci SS14: Sweetness and light

The heavy-handed physical removal of two topless Femen protesters from the Nina Ricci catwalk (one was dragged off by her leg as she continued to yell), only served to make the collection seem even more weightless and ethereal. Peter Copping had conjured up a summer daydream, with a white muslin curtain setting the scene as it wafted down the centre of the runway, and a procession of sylphs clad all in white, whispering by. It was dreamy. But as feminine as it was, Copping had actually based the collection on menswear of the 18th century, a time when men were romantic and wistful and wore tailcoats and cascading ruffles. So there were mannish details such as a tuxedo shirt front, a waistcoat, or a pair of cropped trousers, but they were counterpointed by gossamer fine layers of lace, diaphanous pleats or little sprigs of flowers. Surely the most feminine imagining of menswear this season - Lord Byron would be proud.