Vogue India Guest blog Post: British Designers Collective Pop Up

11th May 2013

Here’s a re-blog of my latest guest blog post for Vogue India and big thanks to Meera Sharma for taking the pics!…

If you can prise the fash pack out of London you know it’s got to be worth it. Last week I joined a gaggle of city fashion journos, designers and bloggers aboard the 09.10 fashion express train from Marylebone station in the direction of discount fashion mela, Bicester Village.

Left to right: British Designers Collective Boutique participants Christopher De Vos, Piers Atkinson, Peter Pilotto, Noel Stewart, Desirée Bollier, Justin Thornton, Thea Bregazzi, Yasmin Sewell, Rita Ora, Henry Holland, Anna Laub, Holly Fulton and Athena Procopiou.

Bicester Village is already a must-go, with super brands like Versace, Gucci and Michael Kors all offering discounts on past season collections and for the next eight weeks nestled amongst them will be the annual pop-up of the British Designers Collective Boutique.

With an impressive designer roll-call including Peter Pilotto (actresses Frieda Pinto and Alia Bhatt are fans) Preen, Jonathon Saunders and Henry Holland the boutique showcases and supports the best of British design talent at prices up to 60 percent more affordable.

Kate Middleton and sister Pippa are fans of shopping at Bicester Village. I wonder if they’ll be popping in to the BDC.

Me hanging out with a J.W. Anderson knit

Mary Katrantzou’s rack

Retail guru Yasmin Sewell took the creative helm this year as curator of the British Designers Collective Boutique, working around the theme of ‘Future Vintage’ and the idea that each piece is an investment and a modern classic.

Recording artist and British style icon Rita Ora at the opening of the boutique on May 2, in a red Roksanda Ilincic dress and Nicholas Kirkwood heels.

Prime Cut Digital shot this promo for Bicester Village at the opening where ambassador Rita Ora gave them a quick interview, along with British Fashion Council CEO and several of the designers present talking about the boutique. The video crew shot, cut and delivered the film on-site in under 12 hours!

Me with Henry Holland