Celebrated New Zealand-born, London-based fashion designer Emilia Wickstead is a red-carpet favourite. Her elegant designs have adorned celebrities and royalty since the label’s inception in 2008, yet it is the women with no particular claim to fame who inspire her the most — her circle of friends, loyal clients and the everyday woman walking down the street dressed in one of her considered designs.
Strategic brand adviser Charlotte Santo Domingo with Sebastian.
Photo / Edd Horder
For her latest pre-fall 2020 collection, Emilia worked with photographer Edd Horder to shoot her band of friends with their children. Inspiration came from Us and Them, the 1999 book by Helmut Newton and his Australian wife June Browne who worked as a photographer under the pseudonym Alice Springs.
Accessories designer Charlotte Dellal with Guy.
Photo / Edd Horder
The book’s timeless black-and-white portraits of the likes of Princess Caroline of Monaco, Donatella Versace and Brigitte Nielsen photographed with their babies and toddlers provided Emilia with an opportunity to draw on parallels of her own female-to-female gaze through intimate black-and-white portraits of the multi-faceted women in her life, who inspire her work.
Film director and musician Fiona Jane Burgess with August and Yves.
Photo / Edd Horder
The mix of women include Emilia’s sales director Beatriz Carranza with her son Fausto, publishing director of British Vogue Vanessa Kingori and her son Charles, and editor and entrepreneur Sabine Getty with her son Jupiter (pictured).
Photo / Edd Horder
Grazia Fashion director Kenya Hunt with Bruno.
Photo / Edd Horder
“I wanted to show that there are childproof clothes. Crease-free, robust, not too delicate, and always with a sense of ease,” Emilia explained upon the collection’s release.
Editor and entrepreneur Alice Naylor-Leyland with Felix.
Photo / Edd Horder
Capturing the essence of her signature crisp tailoring and perfect dresses, the intimate portraits are another example of the designer’s desire to dress women from all walks of life — making them feel like the best version of themselves in the process.
Deputy editor at British Vogue Sarah Harris with Dree.
Photo / Edd Horder
Tatiana Casiraghi, entrepreneur and charitable patron with Max.
Photo / Edd Horder
Strategic brand adviser Charlotte Santo Doming with Sebastian.
Photo / Edd Horder
Publishing director of British Vogue Vanessa Kingori with Charles.
Photo / Edd Horder
Accessories designer Charlotte Dellal with Guy.
Photo / Edd Horder
Tatiana Casiraghi, entrepreneur and charitable patron, with Max.
Photo / Edd Horder
Film director and musician Fiona Jane Burgess with August.
Photo / Edd Horder
Hikari Yokoyama art curator and trustee for Women for Women.
Photo / Edd Horder
Sales director at Emilia Wickstead Beatriz Carranza with Fausto.
Photo / Edd Horder
