Latest news with #Whistles
Graziadaily
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Graziadaily
There's Only One Brand Making Summer Dresses I Want To Wear This Year
Recently, a friend commented on the fact that I always wear dresses. In fact, she said, she's not sure she's ever even seen me in jeans. 'You make so much effort,' she said, as if she were annoyed by this fact. What I didn't say in return is that she's quite wrong: while dresses do make one look as though much effort has been exerted, the truth is that a dress is just an easy ready-made outfit that doesn't require much thought at all. Of course, this does mean that much attention has to be paid in order to find the best kinds of dresses on which you can always rely. But I can safely say I have achieved this – and it's all thanks to Whistles. I've always loved Whistles but it's recently that the brand has really turned me into something of a shopping addict. This is because its summer 2025 collection is, in my humble opinion, its best yet, full of super-chic pieces to work for every kind of plan. From the best barrel leg jeans I've seen to versatile midi skirts and work-ready tailoring, there are so many great separates that you could build an entire wardrobe from them – and then some. I have to say, though, it's the dresses which have really stolen my heart. There are shirred sun dresses which are perfect for packing in your suitcase but would look equally great under a light jacket for work, and there are beautiful linen dresses in relaxed silhouettes which will save you from any heatwave. A shift dress with textured detail comes in 2025's most popular shade – butter yellow – and is crying out to be worn with heeled flip-flops and a tan, while the crochet midi will be the piece you most reach for this summer and next. For any summer weddings, try the classic sleeveless dress in the most irresistible shade of plum, or the lime lace style that just needs black strappy sandals and gold jewellery. In fact, I could really wax lyrical about each and every dress available at Whistles right now, but I won't – you've got shopping to do. 1. Ivory Cotton Crochet Midi Dress The dream holiday dress, just throw this on with sandals and you're ready to go. 2. Butter Deana Textured Detail Dress This dress will prove to be incredibly versatile: dress up for weddings or simply wear with trainers for sunny afternoons with friends. 3. Plum Lori Textured Midi Dress All this needs is summer's most popular shoe – heeled flip-flops – and your favourite jewellery. 4. Lime Lace Insert Midi Dress With its lace inserts and a striking lime hue, this dress will make a real impact – without you even having to try. Perfect for balmy holiday evenings or even under an oversized blazer for weddings. 5. Red Shirred Bodice V Neck Dress The dream sun dress, this is also available in yellow, as well as a petite version. 6. Blue Panel Linen Blend Dress Need a smart dress for work which is also heatwave-friendly? This linen style is just that. 7. Black Fringe Detail Knitted Dress Consider this the LBD upgrade you didn't know you needed – until now. With metallic accessories and your best sunglasses, this will make you summer's best dressed. 8. Cream Floral Crochet Knit Dress Pictures don't do this dress justice – the delicate crochet detail looks far more expensive than it is, while the soft colour taps into 2025's obsession with butter yellow. Hannah Banks-Walker is Grazia's head of fashion commerce. She has previously written for the likes of Harper's Bazaar, The Financial Times, Glamour, Stylist, The Telegraph, Red, i-D and The Pool on everything from fashion to curly hair (hi!) to the patriarchy. Not necessarily in that order. Find her on Instagram and Twitter . But please don't look for her MySpace profile, which until now was the last time she wrote about herself in the third person
The Guardian
06-05-2025
- Business
- The Guardian
‘Women designing for women': the new wave dominating UK high street
The health of the British high street is a much-discussed topic in fashion. The latest secret weapon set to resuscitate the sector? A wave of female designers at much-loved brands. The Guardian's journalism is independent. We will earn a commission if you buy something through an affiliate link. Learn more. Jacqui Markham, previously the design director at Topshop and Asos, was named the new creative director at Whistles last week. She joins Maddy Evans, promoted to director of womenswear at Marks & Spencer this year, and Clare Waight Keller, the former Givenchy designer who joined Uniqlo last year. Meanwhile, Cos, the fashion insiders' current favourite, has had Karin Gustafsson at the design helm since the brand began in 2006. All of these brands have seen a boost in recent years. That has been in part thanks to items that go viral. In the Lyst hottest products for Q1 of 2025, an influential list of items fashionable consumers are searching for, Uniqlo's £3.90 red socks and Cos's £75 barrel leg trousers featured alongside designer items. Whistles – and its parent company TFG, which acquired the brand in 2016 – will be hoping that Markham can be the magic bullet. The brand was founded in 1976 and had a golden era in the 2010s, under the stewardship of high-street whisperer Jane Shepherdson. But hype around the brand has quietened recently. 'With the retail market so saturated, it is more important than ever for us to stand out,' says the product director, Camille Sullivan. 'Jacqui will be key here.' Sullivan says the 'women designing for women' factor is powerful: 'I believe our team's lived experiences help us understand and relate to our customer and what she needs in her day to day life.' Catherine Shuttleworth, a retail consultant and the chief executive of Savvy Marketing, agrees: 'Nobody knows how women think and behave and shop better than other women, in my opinion.' No discussion of the high street now can happen without mentioning Topshop. The much-loved retailer (and its menswear arm Topman) closed its stores in 2021 after a buyout from Asos took it online. It announced it would be coming back to stores in March to an outpouring of nostalgia. The first move will be a pop-up later this month. Announced on social media this week, all slots to visit the store have sold out. The team at the brand is mixed gender, with managing director Michelle Wilson, product director Deanna Iannello, head of design Steven Andrews and Moses Rashid, global marketing director. Wilson says this recruitment had been crucial. 'We're now in the position to operate as standalone brands, delivering great product, designed in London with our London lens,' she adds. Joy Montgomery, the shopping editor at Vogue, says they need to be careful when it comes to the nostalgia factor. 'I don't think high street brands that have heritage can rely on that alone,' she says. 'Look at the archives, but then what layer do you add on to that?' Wilson says they are focusing on the spirit of the brand. 'Topshop was always the go-to accessible fashion brand for cultural tastemakers,' she says. 'It was about unlocking the best of fashion for everyone.' Sign up to Business Today Get set for the working day – we'll point you to all the business news and analysis you need every morning after newsletter promotion Meanwhile, Waight Keller's switch from luxury to high street is revealing when it comes to job prospects for designers. In the past year or so, high fashion has been called out for the lack of female talent in the top design jobs, with recent vacancies often going to men. The high street appointments shouldn't be seen as solving the problem, however. 'There is something to be said for having that diversity,' she says. 'But there is a bit of a risk that you put all women into a box which is more utilitarian or for masses, and that can be dangerous.' There are signs that silo-ing between high street and high fashion is over. Along with Waight Keller coming to Uniqlo, there has been movement the other way. Louise Trotter, who began her career at Whistles, was named creative director at Bottega Veneta in December, while Kate Phelan, who worked with Topshop, was named creative director of Harvey Nichols. Shuttleworth says this is down to a shift in thinking. 'Good retailers are starting to look for [designers] in a much more interesting ways. High street brands come in and out of fashion so, to retain their place, they need fantastic talent.'
Fashion Network
05-05-2025
- Business
- Fashion Network
White Stuff CEO Jenkins exits months after TFG takes over
Jo Jenkins is to step down from the CEO's chair at White Stuff 'to pursue new opportunities' following last October's acquisition of the company by TFG London. She joined the business seven years ago after having been director of clothing and beauty at M&S. Before that she was womenswear product director of Next and in her White Stuff role has overseen a series of increasingly strong results for the label. The owner of the Hobbs, Whistles and Phase Eight brands said that the retailers' existing leadership team will 'continue to drive the brand's ambitious growth strategy'. A replacement for Jenkins is being sought. The success of her tenure can be seen from the increasingly impressive results at the business, as well as new stores and launches. Its most recent trading statement saw White Stuff enjoying total sales up 21.8% in the 10 weeks to 4 January and it also saw record customer growth in the period. Jenkins said of her latest move: 'With the acquisition by TFG complete and this unique brand poised for its next phase of growth, now is the right time for me to step aside. I am confident that White Stuff will continue to thrive, supported by fantastic and motivated teams, and under TFG's experienced stewardship.'
Fashion Network
05-05-2025
- Business
- Fashion Network
White Stuff CEO Jenkins exits months after TFG takes over
Jo Jenkins is to step down from the CEO's chair at White Stuff 'to pursue new opportunities' following last October's acquisition of the company by TFG London. She joined the business seven years ago after having been director of clothing and beauty at M&S. Before that she was womenswear product director of Next and in her White Stuff role has overseen a series of increasingly strong results for the label. The owner of the Hobbs, Whistles and Phase Eight brands said that the retailers' existing leadership team will 'continue to drive the brand's ambitious growth strategy'. A replacement for Jenkins is being sought. The success of her tenure can be seen from the increasingly impressive results at the business, as well as new stores and launches. Its most recent trading statement saw White Stuff enjoying total sales up 21.8% in the 10 weeks to 4 January and it also saw record customer growth in the period. Jenkins said of her latest move: 'With the acquisition by TFG complete and this unique brand poised for its next phase of growth, now is the right time for me to step aside. I am confident that White Stuff will continue to thrive, supported by fantastic and motivated teams, and under TFG's experienced stewardship.'
Fashion United
29-04-2025
- Business
- Fashion United
Whistles names former Topshop design head as creative director
British fashion retailer Whistles has appointed Jacqui Markham to the newly created role of creative director. Markham, who will take on the position immediately, has been tasked with elevating the brand's design direction and wider creative vision. Starting off in the industry as a designer at Oasis and Karen Millen, Markham went on to first become design director for Topshop and Topman, before taking on the same title at Asos and Urban Outfitters Europe. She had also served as a design consultant for Topshop and Studio Jack over a number of years, and had, until recently, reverted back to that role on a freelance basis, according to her LinkedIn. Markham will report to product director of Whistles, Camille Sullivan, who said Markham's extensive experience would be 'instrumental in driving both the brand and our product offering forward in our next stage of growth'. In her own statement, meanwhile, Markham expressed plans to 'bring a fresh spirit to the brand' by 'channelling the visionary ethos set by Lucille Lewin [Whistles' founder, ed.] and building on the contemporary yet effortless, signature style of Whistles'. Markham's appointment at Whistles comes as the brand embarks on a strategic repositioning of its label, with further expansion to focus on key markets in the UK, Ireland and the US. The brand, which had been acquired by TFG Brands (London) in 2016, already boasts a notable retail network of 37 standalone stores and 76 concessions, and is present at department stores across the UK, US, the Netherlands and Germany.
