Two years after the designer's death, Sarah Burton's McQ makes its runway debut. Fashion Editor Susannah Frankel reports

Classic label takes a step into the future with online ordering straight from the catwalk

If London is still predominantly famous for its fledgling names, the exception that proves the rule is Burberry, a globally recognised international brand with the money and power behind it to match.

Burberry, which is due to update the market this week, is planning a global roll-out of its three separate fashion lines. The programme is part of a plan to distinguish its upmarket catwalk collections from its more casual lines.

It was a tale of two Christophers at London Fashion Week yesterday as two of the schedule's most talked-about designers unveiled their new collections.

Some trends are more irritating than inspiring.

Notebook

The fashion world thought the era of bling was over, after several seasons of sensible jumpers and sleek leather skirts dominating the catwalks. But one of the latest trends to slither out of London Fashion Week is snakeskin – on skirts, dresses, jackets. Everywhere in fact, but on the snakes themselves.

Today's Young British Artists are well-connected, appear in Tatler and are mostly Oxbridge-educated – a far cry from the rough edges of Tracey Emin and Damien Hirst.

Comment

Summer is here, the much derided home information packs are gone, house prices are slowly returning to their 2007 peak and you have decided to put your home on the market. This time, however, it is different – you have recession wary and double-dip conscious buyers to contend with. They will interrogate and evaluate, sniff around inside and even dig around elsewhere. But get the essentials right and invest only in improvements that will add value, and a faster sale, better price, and reduced chance of deals falling through could be your reward.

Want to keep in shape, but don't fancy ugly fitness equipment ruining your chic interior?

Fashion cliché of the week: opposites attract. And so, as sure as eggs is eggs, what the latest issue of British Vogue describes as "the new pretty", duly identified as among the leading looks of the spring season, is inevitably rubbing shoulders with, er, the new utilitarianism.

The front-row ticket is so last year. Celebrities need no invitation as the Milan catwalk goes online