Virginia Chadwyck-Healey goes green
Rejoice, this much-loved, home-grown staple is back from the brink
Iremember a morning in March when I glanced down at my phone to see a news alert, revealing that LK Bennett, beloved, home-grown luminary of the British high street, was going into administration. One friend I knew working there had lost her job overnight. Every fashion and business journalist picked over the reasons for why the brand had fallen from its position of seemingly unstoppable development. My clients texted. “Can it be true?!… Oh wow, imagine the closing down sales!” We waited for said sales. Staff in store pottered nervously, ready to head off queries: “Why are you still selling full-price stock?” or “I think I’ll hold fire and wait until the final sale starts.” It was, in a word, depressing. If LK Bennett could no longer stomach the rollercoaster ride of retail, who would be next?
Well, LK Bennett has not closed. It is no longer in administration and it is determinedly here to stay. I wouldn’t normally focus on such news for this column, but I am guessing that all of you, since its conception in 1990, have fallen head over (kitten) heels with something in its stores at some point. LK Bennett was bought by Byland UK, meaning that it is now run by Rebecca Feng, who was already running the brand’s Chinese franchises successfully. It means that the British design team, still firmly at the helm, can benefit from global expansion and support
from the strong market in the Far East.
Which leads me to the new collection and this fern-green tea dress, with pussy bow collar. It jumped out from the website as a great new season addition to any wardrobe, a real “buy now wear now” piece. Translate that as “Buy now, wear to work, and throw on for Christmas parties and festive family gatherings” and you’re going to get a lot of wear out of it. I’ve styled it with my favourite navy suede court shoes (old LK Bennett, too, no less), and patent black boots that I’ve had for years, to highlight how you can adapt it for colder days. As we
Mortimer dress (£250, sizes 6-18), LK Bennett; blue suede heels, Ginnie’s own (available at LK Bennett, £195); black patent boots, Ginnie’s own (alternatives available at matchesfashion.com); hair accessories from Etsy. approach September, the vivid fabric will show off the last of your summer tan perfectly, and it will work beautifully with a camel coat and said boots for bracing the chill come November. A number of you have contacted me in the past to say that you are surprised by the higher prices at LK Bennett. I would encourage you to really find pieces that aren’t overtly “LKB”. Step away from the nude heels. Instead, seek out its excellent, high-quality range of trousers – from sailor pants, to palazzo pants, to good old tuxedo styles. You’ll pay a price that reflects their longevity. The same goes for its Chelsea boots or heeled ankle boots. I’m not looking for super “fashionforward”, but classic fashion with clout, offering a good shelf life.
So do take another look, I implore you, especially as we start to consider longer sleeves again, or that new coat and the upgrade to your knee-high boots. LK Bennett’s quality classics may hold all the answers.