From Meryl Streep to Nina Simone, Peter Jensen is a dab hand at picking a suitably fabulous muse on which to base his collections - and this season is no exception. Thelma Speirs, the astonishingly talented and understatedly chic designer, is his current icon of choice, and her wavy grey bob and prim (but not plain) style was referenced with panache on today’s catwalk.

Speirs, best known as one half of millinery duo Bernstock Speirs, aces tomboy looks with playful twists, and in tribute, Jensen has come up with a series of very proper cropped blazers, a-line skirts, plaid swing coats and sophisticated floor length dresses before swiftly subverting them with the most eccentric of touches.

Electric pink loafers, rabbit ear tongue shoes (as well as an irresistibly cute bunny cap), headphones hanging like jewellery and glittering belts infused each look with character. While bording school style combos (high waisted skirts and tucked in knits) gave a child-like softness to the abundance of utility looks we’ve been seeing across LFW runways.

As Jensen himself popped out to reap his applause at the end, it was Thelma Speirs he made a beeline for in the front row, giving her a huge hug - in turned up jeans and a simple knit, she looked like a stray model. As did fellow front-rower Alexa Chung. Though we know whose look we’d rather borrow - Thelma, we’re all yours! Zena Alkayat