Holy fashion, Batman! Luella hits London's runway

LONDON (Reuters) - Luella returned to London's runway on Monday after a six year sojourn in New York and Milan bringing a catwalk collection for comic book addicts in floral prints and acid colors stamped with Batman insignia.

The designer, formerly known by her full name Luella Bartley, said her catwalk character was "a little bit of a geek but also very sexy".

"She's into her comic books but she's also very feminine," she told Reuters TV, referring to the character.

Luella's return for the London Fashion Week spring/ summer 2008 season is timed to coincide with her opening a store on London's Brook Street in the upmarket Mayfair area.

She is not alone is being attracted to set up in London's booming shopping district which has become a global destination for the world's wealthy as the city enjoys a cultural renaissance.

U.S. designer Diane von Furstenburg opened a store on Sunday, glamour brand Playboy are opening on Thursday on Oxford Street and jeweler Cartier on Tuesday will unveil an extension to their Bond Street flagship that will double it in size.

Luella's comeback has also increased the heat about London Fashion Week, which is enjoying a resurgence thanks to upcoming designers Gareth Pugh, Marios Schwab, Christopher Kane and Louise Goldin -- all hotly tipped by fashion editors.

"Young British fashion has become infectious," The New York Times fashion writer Cathy Horyn wrote in her blog on Monday, half way through the six-day event.

Christopher Kane, who had to remake his entire collection two weeks before the show having had the previous one stolen from his atelier, put on a show on Monday that he said drew inspiration from such diverse sources as Stephen King's horror movies, Prisoner Cell Block H and Crocodile Dundee.

Dress lengths fell to the floor or mid-calf and ruffles and snakeskin print dominated. While the reaction from the audience was muted, the designer was pleased with the result.

"The show was amazing," he said.