Rising Star of Artisan Dressmakers

New Zealand fashion designer Emilia Wickstead – “already one of the best-kept secrets in the upper echelons of London society” – has been recruited by Selfridges as a bespoke tailor for the department store. Her pared-down design aesthetic suits women who no longer want to be doing with whimsical trends, but want to focus on creating a hard-working, sophisticated wardrobe. “I wanted to shake off the slightly mumsy image of made-to-measure and make bespoke relevant to young, contemporary women,” twenty-nine-year-old Wickstead says. With dresses created to a client’s specification ranging between £450 and £2000, it’s not High Street prices, but is instead on a par with many of the designer garments hanging elsewhere in the store. Wickstead dresses the likes of the Duchess of Cambridge and Samantha Cameron.