Nicole Farhi A/W 2007

The venue: The Royal Opera House in Covent Garden

A darker shade of pale: Black dominated the palette, with just a few shadows of graphite and navy, on a sumptuous array of cashmere, taffeta and silk

What we want: The dark grey cashmere bustier dress, worn underneath a long black silk cotton and cashmere cardigan, with wide-brim felt hat and elbow-length gloves

Girl talk: 'Because we are women, we have a clearer view of what we want to wear. We dress a real woman, not the fantasy image some men designers have in their minds. I think we understand more about comfort,' said Nicole Farhi.

Report by Carla Bevan. Photographs by Mitchell Sams