I’m not sure whether it’s the practical kitten heels that continue to go down a treat with professional women that to blame, or the fact they’ve become the go-to brand for a certain Duchess, but there’s no disputing that LK Bennett has a reputation for being prim. If you’ve been paying attention over the past few years though, you’ll know that the British label has done a great deal to shake off those connotations and, while you’ll still find those classics each season, there’s so much more to them than that.
Last year they took that one step further by jumping on the collaboration bandwagon with a sell out collection with Tank magazine publisher, fashion director and all round street style favourite Caroline Issa, full of statement pom-poms and colourful embroidery. And it didn’t end there because shortly afterwards, they joined forces with actress Rosamund Pike who, not only lent her face to the brand, but also designed a full blown capsule collection too. Now the mantle has officially been passed to Laura Bailey, yet another style force to be reckoned with.
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‘Following on from those sell-out collaborations, LK Bennett approached me with a view to creating a capsule collection for spring/summer 2014, an irresistible opportunity to dream up my perfect summer shoes, while leaning on the brand’s technical and marketing expertise,’ Bailey explains. ‘I love working creatively with a team, from the initial mood boards to the first samples to the shoots and sales.’
In the fashion world, Laura Bailey – Loquet London creative director, British Vogue contributing editor and Chanel ambassador – is known for a particular sort of personal style: an immediately covetable, polished yet, effortlessly thrown together, mix of vintage and contemporary designs. ‘My style is English eclectic but also tomboy princess,’ she says, citing such disparate pieces like Chanel shades, Frame denim, Nike high tops and feminine, sorbet toned Emilia Wickstead dresses among her fashion essentials. The good part is that she’s managed to bottle that essence, along with her love of travel, into the new collection, which you can finally buy both online and in shops from this weekend.
Inspired by both the sixties and her time in the Amalfi Coast, the range features modish flats with cross over straps and strong printed heeled sandals a matching bag. ‘I really looked to the Amalfi Coast, Italian cinema, sixties geometric print swimsuits and Riviera romance. But also iconic actresses like Monica Vitti, Sophia Loren and Anna Magnani,’ she explains. ‘I drew mostly on the sixties and early seventies: timeless understated glamour with a modern edge. I’m attracted to the clash of print and solids, brights and neutrals, matte and shine,’ she continues. ‘I wanted the designs to be as chic and brave as the iconic actresses and landscapes I was inspired by.’
Prices start from £195 to £295.