With the leaves falling off the trees and pumpkins popping up everywhere, it’s time I start getting reacquainted with some autumn clothing. As you will have seen in my post celebrating 200 years of Pringle, my love of cardigans is strong. They will never go out of fashion and literally go with everything in my wardrobe. I don’t know where I’d be without them! For me, this year has all been about investing in good quality items that will last the distance rather than frittering away money on poorly made stuff that will barely last the season. However, finding places worth investing in can be a tough challenge. When I got an invitation to meet the Victoria Stapleton, the founder, owner and creative director at Brora, the timing couldn’t have been more perfect.
Victoria started Brora, a in 1993 in a 100 year old tweed mill based on the east coast of Scotland, (which is also the main mill used to produce Channel and Burberry’s knits.) Her goal was to create beautifully made timeless pieces from cashmere and the highest quality yarn, but unlike the vast majority of the retail world, she wanted to make as many of her products as possible in the UK. This means that all of their cashmere clothing is made in Scotland, with many pieces created by hand by local Scottish families who have been working closely with the team and mill for generations. Isn’t that phenomenal?
With a combination of modern and vintage inspired clothing, they’ve worked closely with Liberty of London to create exclusive prints to compliment their cashmere collection, which has resulted in some seriously stunning pieces like this oriental jersey dress and these gloriously floral knickers, which are definitely getting bookmarked for Christmas. In the past couple of years they have also collaborated with Sophie Dahl (swoon!), Hello Kitty and Michael Van Der Ham. Whats next on the cards? A collaboration with London’s most loved emerging designer, Eudon Choi !
Aren’t these the cutest gloves and hot water bottle covers you’ve ever laid eyes on? I love that he’s created a line of clothing inspired by 1970s apres ski. It’s just too perfect! I think it’s really fantastic that Brora has made cashmere and woollen textiles so accessible to younger generations. It really saddens me that there seems to be an air of dowdiness that often gets associated with good quality knitwear – it’s absolute nonsense. Being warm and cozy doesn’t mean you can’t be bright and playful at the same time. They have an amazing collection that means you can buy a classic round neck cardigan (an essential for a vintage gal’s wardrobe!) or go all out and get something graphic, colourful and fantastic. The best part? These pieces won’t loose their shape over time. Yes they’re more expensive than on the high street, but if it means I wont be looking to buy another black cardigan in a few months time (I live in these) I know it’s worth the investment.
When I spotted this Plaid Scarf I immediately fell in love; check out that vibrant tartan pattern! But guess what? It’s double sided – the half you can’t see in this image is a beautiful black and white herringbone print. One side is perfect for my grey coat, the other spot on for my pink one! I’ve never seen such a clever scarf idea before – double warmth and two looks in one (or a mixture of both depending how its worn.) Made from merino and cashmere, there was no way I was leaving without this draped around me. Well, if there’s is only one thing you’re invest in this season it’s got to be the most diverse and timeless piece in your wardrobe, right? Worth every penny.
Next time you hear me saying that I’m looking for something stylish and seriously cozy that’s worth investing in, you know where you’ll find me. I might be there for a while, I spotted some devine skirts on my way out too!
Vicky xox
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