IT may not have been the most breath taking celebration of spring but Debenhams Department Store got in first with a fashion launch at the Clarence Hotel.
In fact it went to the head a little with more models asked to pose in the roof top jacuzzi than seemed reasonable. Because while Debenhams is good on swimwear, it is even better on the dress and matching jacket - flowered, spotted, striped or just utterly plain, this seems to be the look for spring.
It is designed by Jasper Conran (£100 a dress, £170 a jacket), by Ben de Lisi, and by a host of "in house" labels. But all eyes were fixed on the bikinis in their gorgeous hot house colours or cool blue and white stripes - nothing new except the matching wrap skirt is now de rigeur around the pool.
Debenhams has a character of its own. It is sensible, a bit restrained on glamour, though Lulu Guinness is a romantic designer making lovely flower embroidered bags. And the so popular 1960s Jackie O shift is, of course, a great foil for a hat, and hats, not necessarily the 1960s pill box, are one of Debenhams passions. So much so that Philip Treacy does a special collection with very tall crowns and wide brims.
This is a cheerful collection fault of blues, lilacs and lime.