From catwalk to high street, Jenny Packham makes her occasion wear mark at Debenhams with her new No.1 Jenny Packham range.
It’s official, you don’t have to marry a prince to dress like royalty.
Two of Kate Middleton’s red carpet favourites have recently forayed into high street territory…
On the same day Alice Temperley announced her upcoming Somerset label for John Lewis (due September), Jenny Packham launched her glamorous No.1 line at Debenhams.
Usually debuted on the international catwalks and reserved for red carpets and the uber-rich, these designer diffusion lines make dressing like a princess accessible to everyone.
“The No.1 Jenny Packham collection means that even more women will be able to enjoy our work, to feel glamorous and confident in the way they look,” Packham says of her high street debut.
Expect rails of embellished gowns and fairytale frocks with an array of glittering accessories to match.
Dressing up in designer has never been so easy.
Packham parade
If you haven’t already heard of British designer Jenny Packham, you’re sure to have seen her work. She describes her signature style as “glamorous, alluring and indulgent” and the stars evidently agree.
Red carpets the world over are graced with her elegant designs flaunted by the likes of Angelina Jolie, Cameron Diaz, Kate Winslet, Jennifer Aniston and Beyonce.
Jenny Packham was also the go-to label when Kate Middleton dazzled in a blush pink embellished gown at a charity gala dinner last summer.
Having raided her archives, Packham points out the similarities between her new range and her A-lister creations: “My favourite piece in the Debenhams No.1 collection is a little black lace dress similar to the Jenny Packham one worn by Cameron Diaz a few years ago.
“I have taken elements from our collection that hopefully will appeal to any woman who loves glamour.”
And it’s not just high profile fashion figures; you may have seen (and drooled over) Packham’s designs in Casino Royale and the Sex And The City films.
Summer chic
No.1 Jenny Packham at Debenhams has made a timely arrival for occasionwear season.
With a summer calendar of weddings, christenings, or days at the races looming, playing dress-up has never been higher on the fashion agenda. Packham describes this summer’s fashion mood as “feminine, striking and bold”.
Exquisite bridal gowns are another string to Packham’s designer bow so it’s little wonder her No.1 collection of 19 dresses offer fashion-forward options for bridesmaids and wedding guests too.
“Many occasions hold a special significance in a woman’s life and each event is important for different reasons,” Packham explains.
“The one thing that remains constant throughout is our desire to be noticed, to be admired and feel flattered by the attention our presence brings. I design every dress with this in mind whether it is for a wedding, a party or a red carpet event.”
Dressing-up box
The Jenny Packham label may be synonymous with partywear and evening dressing but the designer has gone to town on eye-catching accessories for her No.1 line.
Jewellery magpies will love the baroque bling and pearl and crystal pieces.
Meanwhile shoe aficionados will be spoilt for choice with the corsage-trim sandals and diamante detail peep-toes. And then there’s the must-have sparkling clutches and wedding-friendly headpieces.
Packham reveals her personal favourite outfit extras from the No.1 collection are the glitter envelope clutches and jewelled collars.
“A great necklace can transform a little black dress and I am also a great fan of cuffs as they seem to work well with our styles,” she says.
“Dare to try something different and invest in the total look if you can – killer heels and a great clutch to accompany the hot dress.”
Get the look
From Twilight to true blue, Kristen Stewart dazzles in cobalt lace. Steal her ladylike style with Kaliko’s blue lace dress, £120 (www.kaliko.co.uk).
Buy it now
Gold, silver or bronze? Get ahead of the Games with the three-piece Daisy chakra bracelet collection to raise money for Fashion Targets Breast Cancer. The silver, rose gold vermeil and 24ct gold vermeil aura chakras are available exclusively from www.my-wardrobe.com, priced from £58 to £88, with 30% of proceeds going to charity.
Fashion flash
:: Red-sole slipper
This is a shoe that Cinderella will definitely want to fit into… Christian Louboutin is designing a pair of one-off ‘Cinderella’ slippers to mark the upcoming release of Disney’s animated classic on Diamond Edition Blu-ray. “I have been so lucky to have crossed paths with Cinderella, an icon who is so emblematic to the shoe world as well as the dream world,” Louboutin says. The red sole designer is also celebrating his 20th Anniversary in shoes with a retrospective exhibition at the London Design Museum, running until July 9. Visit designmuseum.org
:: Office politics
Time to shun the shirt? Business couture is changing as British office workers merge their work and personal styles, according to new research from TK Maxx. More than a quarter of women (27%) don’t wear dresses and around one in four men (26%) don’t bother with a quarter of the suits they own. Less than 1 in 20 office workers don’t own a shirt at all.
:: No.1 Jenny Packham is available now in 72 selected Debenhams stores, extending to a further 56 stores by July. Visit www.debenhams.com or call 08445 616 161