I’m sure some of you will have heard of the brand Whistles, and may associate it with the frumpy style of the more mature lady (so to speak), but I am here to inform you (if you didn’t already know!) that the brand has been given an extreme makeover, targeting the younger, more fashionable female.
The former brand director of Topshop, Jane Shepherdson, and her team have transformed the brand from frumpy couture to high fashion over the course of 2009, taking the once flailing company into high profits. The brand is based around the idea of using traditional and quite simple styles made with high quality fabrics and prints, to create a collection of garments that are easy to wear. The muse that has inspired the collection is the ‘Whistles woman’ who is very on trend but appears to make very little effort when it comes to her clothes. She has natural beauty and wears minimal makeup and this idea of natural, effortless chic can be seen in the current collections.
The brand is already well known for its edgy trouser designs after gracefully mastering one of this seasons must haves, the harem pant. There are different takes on the harem design in the current Whistles collection. The cheaper more casual harems at £65 are made from jersey and come in black, Khaki and brown. These are brilliant for summer holidays and look fabulous with a simple vest top or T- shirt. The more expensive designs are made from silk, making them more formal allowing them to be worn for work or a summer evening date. But trousers are not all the brand has to offer. There are also beautifully designed tops, skirts, dresses and knitwear to wet our fashion appetite.
If that isn’t enough to convince you that Whistles has been flipped 180 degrees then perhaps this will! Many celebrities have taken a fancy to the brand, one of them being Cheryl Cole who has been a fashion icon over recent years. She has been sited wearing the Bleach Crop Tee, which has subsequently sold out in most stores. Mel C has also been photographed wearing the Carrie Harem Shorts and a pair of last season’s Jersey Harem pants. Magazines such as Grazia have also praised the brand and featured many of the pieces in the stylist sections. Then, to add to the high publicity associated with Whistles, a well known couture designer, Roksanda Illinic has created a collection of cocktail dresses for the brand, which have been selling like hot cakes! Kylie Minogue has been wearing one of the dresses featuring the quirky discs and luxury design.
Not only is the brand ticking all the fashion boxes, but it is also student friendly. Many of the stand alone stores periodically offer student discount, so keep your eyes peeled to save some dosh! The Whistles Autumn/Winter look book is now available to view on the website and it looks fabulous, so get looking before the key pieces get snapped up!
