Best of British

After everyone having a very patriotic weekend & the cult of grand Britannia being everywhere from bunting to nails to cupcakes to sofas (and least we forget Ollie Locke's jaguar), it got me thinking about the best of British fashion. If nothing else, I think it is amazing to take some time to celebrate how amazing British design is. I know for me it is fashion, but what gets everyone's patriotic spirit going?

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1. Stella McCartney
She seems to have gone from strength to strength of late, I love her sharp tailoring and feminine fabrics with a focus on wearable design. Oh and don't forget her Olympics 2012 collaboration with Adidas (it almost makes sports interesting to me). In my humble opinion I think her focus on ethical practices is a great move forward for British fashion.

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2. Mulberry
Ok, so my love of all things Mulberry may have gotten a little out of control (especially now that I know that they do wallpaper) but I love the heritage of this brand. I have had a long standing love affair with Mulberry, since dressing up & playing with my mum's battered Mulberry bucket bag. They don't seem to be able to put a foot wrong currently & the Del Rey is next on my fashion hit list.

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3. Nicholas Kirkwood
For statement shoes,  or as I would consider them,  pieces of artwork,  look no further than Nicholas Kirkwood. I fell head over heels (like what I did there) with his shoes on visiting them in Dover St Market a couple of years ago, I now always try & pop into his Mount St store when I need a breath of shoe godliness. Taking inspiration from Philip Treacy, his shoes have developed a cult following & he opened his first New York store last week. 

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4. Erdem
His unique prints, floral tendencies and oh so feminine pieces have influenced so much of S/S 2012. His use of elegant colours & flattering cuts, seems modern and a breath of fresh air for London fashion week. I would love to own one of his silk & organza draped dresses. sigh, a girl can dream.

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5. Pringle of Scotland
A couple of my happiest vintage finds are pristine cashmere Pringle cardigans. They seem timeless & oh so classic. With a longstanding history, Pringle for me is all about luxury knitwear & amazing quality. I think that they have managed to reinvent themselves, but stay true to their knitwear heritage, their designs are elegant and synonymous with class British style.


What does everyone else think? Any other stand out British designers for you? xxx

ps. Has anyone made it along to the V&A yet to see their summer exhibit of 'British Design 1948-2012: Innovation in the Modern Age' ? - It is open until August 12th and showcases influential designers such as Mary Quant, Philip Treacy and Alexander McQueen to name just a few. It is on my London hit list for this month.