Pattern! Print! Colour!

Essentiel Antwerp is quite rightly having its moment of fame today as it is featured large in the Times fashion supplement.  We have long been fans of this quirky, fun, colourful brand from Antwerp and have enjoyed stocking it on and off for over a decade now.  In recent seasons the collection have just got better and better and this summer is no disappointment.

Inge Onsea is the woman behind this "It" label and she wants to change the way we dress, she tells Anna Murphy.  Her view (and ours!) is that life is too short to only wear grey and black, and she has noticed that she feels happier if she wears colour.  Essentiel Antwerp really does nail pattern and colour better than anyone else, and although it is without doubt contemporary and youthful, the styles are so well designed that we have discovered they work well for all ages.  Floral printed maxi dresses are a big part of the collection this season, cut with a relaxed feel, these work really well worn with trainers or boots in a casual way.  We've got a truly amazing multi coloured sequinned midi skirt that would look so great worn with a really plain t shirt or even an over sized hoodie.  Inge Onsea is a real fan of dressing down luxe fabrics in this way and not just saving them for best, saying "I really do go to the supermarket in sequins, or track pants and heels" - see, it's all about the unexpected and striking contrasts.  Shirts are cut in a loose, mannish style but then adorned with beading, embroidery and sequins.  One of our most loyal customers came in yesterday to find some pieces to wear as she was going to Coachella, in the Californian desert.  She immediately picked out the sequinned skirt which she plans to wear with short cowboy boots and perhaps a Levi t shirt - she has promised to send photographs so I look forward to showing these to you at a later date! 

The pricing is clearly carefully thought out, and works out as a good mid market price point, with pretty tops and lovely leather accessories just over £100 mark, and covetable dresses generally around £200-£300 but you know you are really going to get your cost per wear value out of these pieces, as well as really enjoying wearing them.  Essentiel Antwerp really is that brand that brings the joy back into fashion. 

I hope you enjoy browsing our selection online, but please remember this is just an small edited collection of the range we stock in store so please give us a call or message if you are interested in any other pieces in the collection that we might be able to help you with.