Isabel Spearman

Another Matinee

I’ve always loved vintage shopping and now its never been easier to find a preloved treasure with instagram. Another Matinee is a very clever concept founded by Sarah Brand who photographs and styles her vintage pieces in a modern way. She regularly produces small launch drops of beautifully curated vintage dresses that are complete one-offs. Digital vintage shopping at its very best.

Dilli Grey

Anyone who has travelled to India will recognise that unbeatable soft Indian cotton that makes for a great easy-to-wear dress. Dilli Grey work with local artisans in Jaipur to create hand blocked pieces for home as well as clothing. I love the classic Indian style smock dress that can be worn loose in the summer or add a slim polo and cinch in with a belt for cooler weather.

Catherine Prevost

This is the brand to go to for that cocktail dress that no one else will be wearing, it’s still a bit of a secret having recently launched. With sumptious velvets, ruffled collars and galactical prints on midi dresses, Catherine really understands how to flatter any figure.

Day Dress

Gabby Deeming set up her brand in a sabbatical from her day job as Creative Director of House and Garden, which explains why she has such a good eye for fabrics and prints. Her dresses are all made in India and she works closely with a family run factory creating dresses with a nod to the 1950’s. Her summer collections are predominantly made in cotton and she has just launched new winter styles in beautiful silks.

O Pioneers

I admit that I squealed with delight when I was tipped about this brand new dress brand. Designed and made in London by an all female team, their dresses tick every box of mine; practical, feminine, 1970’s inspired in great colours and fabrics. They don’t make massive production runs so you really feel you own something special, which gives the dress all that more pleasure to own and wear.

Meadows

This is a newcomer in the Victoriana, prairie style category and a sister brand to L.F. Markey - but completely different. They make the kind of dresses that you want to wear with trainers and waft about in, living your Laura Ingalls Wilder dream lifestyle.

Justine Tabak

All made in London from dead stock fabric, Justine’s dresses are the ones you want to live in all day, every day. From beautiful Liberty prints, needle point corduroy and modern tartans these dresses are wardrobe investments that will you will re wear time and time again.

Kai Collective

A recent discovery of mine, this is a London based brand that create dresses with an element of drama. My favourite style is the Bea in cotton with big puff sleeves and buttons running all the way down the front. It’s one of those ‘I want to make a statement’ dresses, and we all need a couple of those in our armoury.

Isabelle Fox

Isabelle is a bit of a trail blazer in sustainable fashion as she has championed home grown production using ethical fabrics longer than a lot of her competitors. She doesn’t wholesale so the customer gets a fantastic quality dress, beautifully made in London for an exceptional price. She is a talent to watch so bag one of her dresses before everyone else does.

Doone London

I discovered Doone’s dresses for my Pop Up earlier this year and I completely fell in love with them. All made in London with sustainable fabrics, Doone makes mainly to order so every dress is unique. She has a great eye for detail, whether it’s an elongated and elegant collar or pearl buttons. The styles have a vintage feel to them and transcend any passing moment in fashion, you will wear them forever.