THE DRG STYLE INDEX: MARGARET HOWELL, JOHN SMEDLEY, HILL& FRIENDS, DIOR
Here’s the latest weekly DRG STYLE INDEX ranking, a round-up of the brands currently buzzing on my radar…
1. MARGARET HOWELL PAYS TRIBUTE TO BARBARA HEPWORTH
Every year Mr DRG and I talk about going to St Ives and I’ve still never been. Oh well, this summer St Ives (kind of) comes to us with Tate Britain’s new exhibition, Barbara Hepworth: Sculpture for a Modern World. To accompany it, there’s a lovely Hepworth-inspired capsule collection from Margaret Howell, including a smock, work shirt, dungarees and silk scarves. Buy them here.
2. JOHN SMEDLEY’S UNISEX KNITS
John Smedley is one of my go-tos for all-season knitwear. Just landed is Singular, a unisex offering of waffle textured extra-fine merino wool jumpers. The utilitarian styling and neutral colourways remind me of school uniforms and 1950s gym kit – in a good way obvs. The sweater is £145 and the T-shirt is £115. Buy them here.
3. THE RETURN OF EMMA HILL
While we wait to see what Hillier Bartley (from Katie Hillier and Luella Bartley) brings this autumn; the news arrived this week of an accessories brand from Emma Hill. Do we need another accessories brand? Well, as Hill was the brains behind the Mulberry revamp and Gap’s early noughties successes it would be prudent to pay attention to what Hill & Friends delivers when it launches in September. A collaboration with former Mulberry brand director, Giorgia Fendley, the SS16 collection will be sold at Net-a-Porter.com and Hillandfriends.com the day after the LFW presentation. Join here for updates.
4. DIOR’S VIRTUAL REALITY BACKSTAGE BEAUTY
This is a clever and unexpected concept from Dior. Clearly, live streaming and Instagramming the show is just not enough; these days punters want to feel even more immersed in the backstage experience. Well that seems to be the view from Dior, who is promoting its Dior Show beauty line (which I love) with some rather fancy virtual reality action in selected stores. Fash & Mash has the story.
WORDS: Disneyrollergirl/Navaz Batliwalla
