Few fashion firms feel more apart than Alexander McQueen, the achingly cool Alexander McQueen, and Cath Kidston, Home Counties icon.
Yet Holly Marler, Cath Kidston’s new creative director, is bridging that gap. She worked with Alexander McQueen for five years. Now she’s been chosen to breathe new life into a brand that, once a global sensation, has seen its fortunes tumble — in April 2020, all 60 of its UK stores closed.
Holly’s CV also spans Temperley and Liberty, and her experience shows in this, her first Cath Kidston collection. The prints work best on childrenswear — my daughter’s favourite was the pink dress with Peter Pan collar (second from right).
Child’s pinafore, £35, cathkidston.com; top, £39, tights, £12, and shoes, £52, lacoquetakids.com
Dress, £85, cathkidston.com; shoes, £229, lkbennett.com
Pictured left: Child’s dress, £42, cathkidston.com, bow, £12, and socks, £7, pepaandcompany. com; shoes, £76, papouelli.com. Pictured right: Dress, £95, and bag, £65, cathkidston.com; shoes, £229, lkbennett.com
Pictured left: Child’s dress, £40, cathkidston. com; tights, £12, and shoes, £52, lacoquetakids.com. Pictured right: Dress, £95, cathkidston.com; shoes, £229, lkbennett.com
Mini-me continues to be a popular trend this season. The same floral print is also available in womenswear in a viscose crepe Forever dress (second from the right).
The same shape dress, a wearable midi with puff shoulder and V-neck, comes in a winter-friendly black-backed design and a mid-blue (far right). For those tiring of the midi, there’s a more risque dress (far left), a mini made from polyester, which is available in black or red for the festive season.
The bags are a big hit, with both the quilted shoulder bags and the oversized shoppers being my favorites. They match the prints but fashion has changed from being matchy-matchy to cool co-ords.
It remains to be seen if the detractors will put their knives away (Cath herself once said: ‘People either love it and want a little bit of it very much, or want to stab us’), but there is much to love in this new collection.
Child’s dress, £40, cathkidston.com; socks, £7, and hair bow, £6, pepaandcompany.com; shoes, £52, lacoquetakids.com
Pictured left: Child’s top, £26, cathkidston.com; pinafore, £52, socks, £7, and shoes, £52, lacoquetakids.com. Pictured right: Dress, £95, cathkidston.com; shoes, £229, lkbennett.com