STELLA MCCARTNEY CROPPED LEOPARD COAT, goop, $2,065; ALEX MILL END ON END SCHOOL SHIRT, goop, $160; M.GEMI SNEAKER WITH ANKLE DETAIL, goop, $278; JANESSA LEONE EMINA HAT, goop, $230; LENA WALD LARGE GOLD PYRAMID RING, goop, $3,400
Our Favorite London-Based Designers
There’s a lot to be said for the richness of British fashion: It’s rooted in classic tailoring techniques yet refreshingly innovative at the same time. Our go-to favorites, below, range from the timeless heritage brands that never go out of style, to the flock of eclectic young designers making a name for themselves both at home and across the pond.
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Stella McCartney
Stella McCartney hardly requires an introduction. Since launching her brand fifteen years ago, she’s become one of London’s most respected designers; we look to her for curve-enhancing tailored dresses and blazers that have just the right amount of personality. Stella’s also a lifelong vegetarian, and never uses any leather or fur in her designs. In fact, her gorgeous faux-fur and faux-leather have made her a global leader in cruelty-free clothing.
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STELLA MCCARTNEY
Crewneck Jumper goop, $1,155 -
STELLA MCCARTNEY
Elyse Boot goop, $1,190 -
STELLA MCCARTNEY
iPhone 6 Leopard Case goop, $145 -
STELLA MCCARTNEY
Alter Nappa Shoulder Bag goop, $1,140 -
STELLA MCCARTNEY
Yvonne Stretch Cady Jumpsuit goop, $1,930
Hunter
A good chunk of what we love about British fashion is of utilitarian origin. Case in point: Hunter’s rain gear. It rains a lot in the UK, hence the premium on Wellington boots, aka Wellies, as well as raincoats of impeccable, long-lasting quality that result in the kinds of enduring must-haves that become hand-me-downs…
Vilshenko
Inspired by her mother, who handmade clothes for her family, Russian-born Olga Vilshenko launched her eponymous line in 2011. By splitting her time between London and Moscow, she’s developed an aesthetic that melds two major cultural influences—brocades and intricate embroidery with Victorian ruffles, lace, and broderie anglaise. As a result, each piece is delicate, pretty, and classically feminine, yet impeccably tailored and unmistakably modern.
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Mother of Pearl
London-based designer Maia Norman founded Mother Of Pearl in 2002 based on her sartorial ideal of “sports luxe”: that is, high-fashion clothing made from luxurious fabrics with artful, uniquely customized prints, that is also totally wearable for women who, like Norman herself, enjoy an active lifestyle. Amy Powney took over as creative director in 2011, carrying on the acclaimed collection’s signature style that merges sportswear with luxury-wear—a union typically found in the details, be it a ruffled blouse in cotton jersey or the addition of a stretch-ribbed collar with athletic stripes.
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MOTHER OF PEARL
Iona Color-Block Coat goop, $795 -
MOTHER OF PEARL Hurley
Long-Sleeved Dress goop, $650 -
MOTHER OF PEARL
Noel Clutch
with Long Strap goop, $475
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Lost Property of London
What we love about this luxury leather bag maker, beyond the structured, sleek, minimalist designs, is their sustainable business model and zero-waste production policy: Each piece is designed and created using traditional, artisanal, and handcrafted methods in London, and made of ethically sourced, vegetable-tanned leather and salvaged materials.
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LOST PROPERTY OF LONDON
Arlington Attaché goop, $529 -
LOST PROPERTY OF LONDON
Small Arlington Rucksack goop, $519
Burberry
Founded in 1856, Burberry is inarguably Britain’s most notable fashion export. Today, thanks in part to chief creative officer Christopher Bailey, who teamed up with former CEO Angela Ahrendts to bring the house into the 21st century without sacrificing an ounce of integrity, this quintessential British brand is still going strong. Everything from the classics—the iconic trench, leather Chelsea boots, and tartans—to the cool, of-the-moment designs that run the gamut from artful, watercolor prints to studded-leather everything, is quality through and through.
Topshop
Topshop put High Street on the map with its house line of comfortably priced on-trend pieces and runway-to-retail collection, Topshop Unique. The brand started in the basement of a department store in 1964 and made its way, decades later, to London Fashion Week, thanks in no small part to collaborations with the likes of Christopher Kane and Kate Moss. While the first U.S. store didn’t open until 2014, word crossed the pond well before that.
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M.i.h.
London-based M.i.h. is a family affair redux: Originally “Made In Heaven,” back when Tony O’Gorman and his wife, denim model Chekkie Lonsdale, launched the line in 1969—they were instrumental in the ’70s denim blow-up—their daughter Chloe Lonsdale relaunched the brand in 2006 with the same dedication to incredible denim. She’s since expanded to a full line of (gorgeous, supremely wearable) separates we simply can’t get enough of.
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M.I.H. Niki Shirt goop, $350
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M.I.H. Parra Skirt goop, $295
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M.I.H. Superfit
Marrakesh goop, $245
Emilia Wickstead
London-based designer Emilia Wickstead launched her eponymous label in 2008 after cutting her teeth at global fashion houses Giorgio Armani, Proenza Schouler, and Narciso Rodriguez. Since then, she’s become known for craftsmanship—a quality her richly textured coats, perfectly tailored dresses, and chic separates have in spades. Vibrant color and impressive prints are her specialty, many of which are modern reinterpretations of the classic English liberty print (dense, vivid florals).
Erdem
The UK’s textile manufacturing heritage includes a treasure trove of elaborate prints—florals in particular—yet, somehow, Montreal-born, London-based Erdem Moralioglu manages to redefine the motif again and again. Well-tailored closet staples come in hyper-modern floral prints—in unlikely, artfully quirky color combinations, the kind that clash yet somehow work at the same time.
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Manolo Blahnik
This Spanish-born designer set up shop in London’s Chelsea district (where the flagship store remains today) in the early ‘70s, and has become a household name for his elegant pumps, sandals, and boots. With designs that bridge timeless classics with new-school eclecticism—and legendarily luxurious quality—Manolo Blahnik is revered today as the gold standard for everything from flat sandals to stunning stilettos.
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MANOLO BLAHNIK Pascalla
Over-the-Knee Boots Barneys, $1,595 -
MANOLO BLAHNIK Lepidusa
Leopard Print Ankle Tie Pumps Manolo Blahnik, $995 -
MANOLO BLAHNIK
Rorita Oxfords Barneys, $795
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J.W.Anderson
By the time J.W.Anderson launched a womenswear line in 2010, he’d already established himself as one of Britain’s fastest-rising talents (he’s also the creative director at Loewe). Some even credit his eclectic-meets-classic designs with spearheading the gender-fluid trend that recently swept the runways. But whether you’re after a classic, structured leather bag or a wearable piece of art, his collections cover it all.
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J.W.ANDERSON
Gold-Plated and
Silver-Tone Ring Net-a-Porter, $300 -
J.W.ANDERSON Medium
‘Pierce’ Shoulder Bag Farfetch, $1,751.40 -
J.W.ANDERSON
Side Zip Asymmetric Skirt Farfetch, $601.82 -
J.W.ANDERSON Ruffled
Leather Ankle Boots Net-a-Porter, $840
