Countdown to London Fashion Week has already begun and we”re already lining up the usual suspects when it comes to the hit collections. As ever, Topshop Unique is bound to be a big draw, with a queue longer than a catwalk trying to storm the show.

Twin caught up with head designer Emma Farrow as she makes her final S/S13 preparations…

Your previous Unique collection had strong masculine influences – how do you explain the enduring appeal of tomboyish style?
With the Topshop Unique collection it is important for us that we play with the contrasts between masculine and feminine.

It’s a great way to transform a look that could become too serious. For example a sexy evening dress is taken in a different direction when put with a boyfriend jacket. It has an ease to it and this is always at the top of our checklist when creating looks for the show.

Topshop holds a  peerless position in the fashion world in that it’s a high street chain with unrivalled fashion force – what’s the key?
It is the same design team that works on both the mainline and Unique collections. Unique is different as it allows us to work in the same way as other high end designers, taking the collection from initial ideas stage right through to the catwalk. This helps to kick start us into thinking about the new season ahead. We are also very fortunate to have contact with some of the worlds best stylists which contributes to a constantly evolving inspiration focus.

When did you first realise you wanted to be a designer?
I always wanted to be a fine artist growing up. I kind of happened upon this career by being in the right place at the right time. My mum would tell you though that I always had very strong opinions about my clothes from an early age and quite often would refuse to wear something for just not being ‘quite right’!

As a designer, how do you stay ahead of the fashion curve?
Just keeping my eyes and ears open to what’s going on out there in the world!

What was the last item of clothing you bought?
An old Balenciaga dress from Narnia NYC. Oh and some nude Baxter jeans from Topshop.

What are you wearing right now?
A camel men-sy jumper and Vintage floral Marni dress. Black pointy chelsea boots from Watanabe (and grey men’s socks!)

What films, images, music do you find yourself constantly returning to for inspiration?
Music and film are influences but no particular genre do we return to, occasionally a new actress or musician may pop up that we may draw inspiration from as a muse.
At the moment we love Grimes and the Fanning sisters for example.
Imagery on the other hand is super important. We work from numerous trend boards at anyone time and these will consist of great editorial shoots from magazines, street style blog imagery, vintage research etc.

Is there a type of woman that you design with in mind when working on a Unique collection?
Not really Unique is for anyone and everyone who loves fashion.

What’s your biggest fashion regret?
Definitely not buying the black Prada mens shoes with silver studs when they were in the shops a few years ago.
I still dream of them. They would just go with everything in my wardrobe.

If you hadn’t been a fashion designer, what would you have been?
Landscape gardener or something to do with interiors.