This is a great time of year in the shop when all the new season deliveries arrive. It’s always exciting to open the boxes and see what lovely garments will soon be available instore.  We’ve already had some casualwear from Hartford, BZR, Day Birger et Mikkelson and Inwear and now the occasion wear has arrived.

Libelula has produced some gorgeous colours and prints again and we have a variety of versions of the classic but ever lovely Millie dress along with some new pretty shapes to check out. Tara Jarmon is all about bright, bold colours in classic Tara petite shapes.  We’ve already had a very strong reaction to Aideen Bodkin with lots of jacket and dress combos.  Nocturne has already been featured in this post and Ann Louise Roswald is all about sumptuous detail as always.  Have a look at a few teaser pictures below. However you need to come into the shop to see AND feel everything in gorgeous detail!

Fashionista: Tell me about this collection and what’s different from your main line.
Matthew Williamson: I hate the word “diffusion,” but it is a diffusion line in the sense that it’s a secondary level to the main line. It’s less red carpet, less glamorous, less jet set, all those DNA qualities of the main line. They’re there, but they’re in much more subtle form, and it’s more about a day wardrobe for a more urban, contemporary, younger customer.

You have some specific design elements you’re well known for. What did you keep and what did you pitch for this line?
I kept the love of pattern, color, print, texture, effortless glamour.

What is challenging about a lower priced line? What do you have to give up?
With this line, weirdly, not very much. Because it’s owned by an Italian company, everything is manufactured in Italy, so the quality is certainly not sacrificed. It probably would be with a high street collaboration, but in this instance it’s not. It’s mid-priced. It’s not a cheap, low-end line. The quality is absoblutely there. It’s amazing what you can do.

It’s not often any shop can describe their clothing as exclusive but this is Matthew’s very first MW collection and the UK stockists are limited and we may well have items that no one else has in the world. Regardless, the collection is to die for – beautifully cut, flattering, glamorous, fantastic fabrics and colour. Everything you’d want from Matthew Williamson in fact but at a boutique price. Check out selected items below.

The Libelula velvet Dulwich coat was a firm favourite even before Kate Middleton or, as we should call her now, the Duchess of Cambridge, started to wear it.

As the exclusive stockists of the beautiful Libelula wedding dresses, it crossed our minds that a simple but elegant coat for Winter weddings would be an utterly unique and fabulous addition to the collection and designer, Sophie Cranston was happy to oblige with this exclusive cream silk, velvet, full length version of her classic design.

There aren’t many of these coats in existence and one is already reserved so don’t hesitate to contact us if you’re interested to visit the shop and try one on for fit.  The coat looks stunning over all of Sophie’s exquisite dresses but is pictured with the Vinnie dress in silk georgette.

In the gallery below there are a few more pictures of the wedding dresses. We have most styles in stock in most sizes, at the moment, along with a few one off styles in size 10 only.

The prices range from £650 to £900 which is incredible for 100% silk dresses (including the lining). Customers have bought them recently for weddings on cliff tops to classic English churches. When you want a dress that you wear with happiness throughout the day, rather than a dress that wears you, these vintage inspired, beautifully  and generously cut dresses beat the alternatives hands down.

We also have the Dulwich coat in the classic short length in cream velevet, if you’re going for a short dress for your special day or even if one sounds lovely for some other special occasion. Just remember, they’re only available at Katharine Bird.

The big question is whether we will have another cold and snowy winter.  Whether you’re regularly walking the dog, picking kids up from school, scurrying to work or off to a special occasion, we have some great clothes for you.  Poncho coats from Pablo, Ella Moon and Inwear. Cashmere from Don’t Label Me and Sheepskins from Joseph. The Puffa coat (Short and long) is still a must and we have lovely ones from Iblues, Gerard Darel, Pablo, Day and Joseph so you should be able to find the perfect one for you.

Whilst black and grey are still the main staples of any winter wardrobe, we have plenty of colours too: greens and mustards, reds and purples and luxurious creams and camels. There’s plenty of work wear from Tara Jarmon and Marc Aurel whilst Day. Berenice and Inwear still offer attractive dress up/dress down separates.

If you know what you want, we’ll point you in the right direction and if you need help, just ask and we’ll be delighted to offer you some suggestions.  New label MW from Matthew Williamson (his only boutique line) offers the cut and quality of his bespoke collection, enhancing our evening wear range greatly. Finally, the lace Libelula wedding dress that many people asked us about earlier in the year has finally arrived so do ask to have a look.

Wednesday  8th of June sees the annual Katharine Bird Summer Party. It’s a chance for all the regulars to spend the evening in a relaxed atmosphere getting advice for the up coming major summer events whilst enjoying the obligatory Pimms and nibbles. There are great gifts for those who chose to buy on the night with a free scarf on purchases over £30 and a free Day Birger tote bag if you are so kind as to spend more than £100 on the night.

With Ascot coming we have beautiful dressess from Libelula, Bombshell, Tara Jarmon, Joseph and more and if this glorious weather continues then a blouse from Baby Ceylon or Inwear would be as perfect as strawberries and cream at Wimbledon or even Andy Murray winning it!!

If you cant make the evening let us know by emailing us or just plain calling us and if there is anything we can do for you please just ask. We have perfect ’substantial fascinators’ that conform the the rules of the Royal Enclosure at Ascot and maxi dresses from Nougat, Avoca and Hale Bob all fit the rules for the length of your skrit at Henley. And if you still aren’t sure whether you should wear black at a wedding, come and have a chat.

Finally, since all the publicity around the Royal Wedding, more and more of you are discovering the beauty and easy style of Libelula’s wedding dresses. If you’re not in the market yourself, how about telling a friend. Remember we are the exclusive stockists of the complete range.

If you didn’t recieve an invite to the late evening, remember to send us an email to join the exclusive email list: info@katharinebird.co.uk

The rumour was made large by The Daily Mail doing a double page spread and the news that Katharine Bird is the exclusive stockist of the Libelula Ready To Wear Wedding Dress collection.  We have no idea whether Sophie is the designer of THAT dress but we do know she would be a great choice if she were and that we are honoured to have her lovely dresses to sell to you.

Since we’ve had the collection we’ve also learnt that many women seek a simple but beautiful dress for their wedding and find such a dress very hard to find.  Libelula Ready To Wear wedding dresses aren’t bespoke. You order a standard size and if necessary get it altered afterwards.  You can alter minor details but not the basic design.  The up side to all this is that the dresses retail between £650 and £900 for a 100% silk full length Wedding Dress. (More below)

The dress pictured is called the Sophia dress. It ISN’T Kate Middleton’s dress. I’m sure this will be a one off, unique dress to reflect the rather special occasion. It is a beautiful, elegant, wonderfully cut design however that will make you feel incredibly special on your own special day.

For more information, call the shop on +44 (0)20 7228 2235

Here’s what The Daily Mail had to say (NB as already mentioned, these dresses aren’t bespoke and they aren’t the design of any Royal Wedding Dress to the best of our knowledge!)

“Yesterday Sophie Cranston, of the low-key label Libelula, was tipped as the creator of the wedding dress.

“The bride-to-be stepped out in one of Miss Cranston’s vintage-inspired coats at a wedding in January, causing speculation that she might be in the running.

“Miss Cranston, 34, won the Designer of Year award at London’s Graduate Fashion Week in 1999 and has already worked for Alexander McQueen and Alice Temperley. She founded her own label, which means dragonfly in Spanish, in 2002 and offers a bespoke bridal collection.

“Working out of a small studio in south London, she has already dressed stars including Emma Watson and Jerry Hall.

“Although Miss Cranston’s name was leaked on to the internet yesterday, St James’s Palace refused to enter into speculation”

Good news. We have the best two pieces from this collection in store right now. the first is a white crochet dress. Simple. Elegant. Perfect for the Summer tha is rapidly arriving.

The second is a beautiful cotton Broderie Anglais blouse. In pure white. Perfect with jeans or maybe a maxi skirt. Both garments are under £150.

Meanwhile Gerard Darel’s collection this year contains many other lovely items from a beautifully tailored Navy work suit to a silk hearts print tunic blouse to a variety of wearable but feminine Summer dresses.

See below for more dresses and tops from the collection, currently available at Katharine Bird.