Ted Baker reports strong Christmas trading period

(Adds details, analyst comment, updates share price)

Jan 13 (Reuters) - Ted Baker Plc (Other OTC: TBAKF - news) reported a strong Christmas trading period as sales of its quirky designer clothing helped it to overcome an unusually mild winter that has weighed on other British fashion brands.

The company's shares rose more than 7 percent on Wednesday morning to rank among the top gainers on the FTSE-250 midcap index.

Some of Britain's hottest November and December temperatures on record hit demand for winter clothing. As customers refrained from buying warm clothes, retailers such as Next Plc (LSE: NXT.L - news) and Marks and Spencer Group have reported disappointing sales.

Analysts said Ted Baker's focus on design helped it to stand out from its rivals.

"You wouldn't go past a Next (Other OTC: NXGPF - news) and say 'Wow, that's fantastic', but you would go past a Ted Baker and say 'That is really exciting.' And that's a big part of their appeal," Liberum analyst Tom Gadsby said.

Ted Baker reported a 10.1 percent increase in retail sales in the eight weeks to Jan. 9.

The company said its gross margins were in line with expectations and that it had "no significant promotional activity" before Christmas.

It (Other OTC: ITGL - news) also said its results for the full year would be in line with its expectations. (Reporting By Mamidipudi Soumithri and Aastha Agnihotri in Bengaluru; Editing by Anupama Dwivedi and Robin Paxton)