British brand Karen Millen designs for the city girl

MANILA, Philippines - British fashion label Karen Millen, known for its versatile investment pieces that provide attainable luxury and effortless glamour, is now in Manila.

Since 1981, this independent label has caught the hearts of many women for its designer style digs at the top end of high street fashion. Karen Millen builds the essential components of a modern woman’s wardrobe that can become cherished staples. The pieces have a timeless quality that transcends seasons.

The design team is headed by Gemma Metheringham, who ensures the brand’s design credentials are met. Whether women are looking for perfectly tailored work wear, a distinctive little black dress or a classic leather jacket, Gemma and the rest of the team are dedicated to showcasing the brand’s effortlessly glamorous style.

This season, Karen Millen brings clean simplicity with emphasis on pieces that work well for the city girl. A mélange of graphic prints, tailored items, and a fresh color palette (from intense pop colors to flattering soft nudes and pastels) are combined in this covetable collection.

Tailored pieces can easily bring women from coffee to cocktails. For Karen Millen’s new collection, the brand gives tailoring a more relaxed feel with longer boyfriend cuts and softer fabrications. For example, the traditional suit gets a short cut while a crisp bib-front tuxedo shirt looks great when paired with tapered pants in intense coral. Sharp jackets are also available and best worn with contrasting light silk tops with sheer or draped panels.

Monochrome graphic prints are also standout pieces from the collection. Body con dresses get a bold update with block prints and subtle shine. Modest-cut garb also looks unique, especially the polka dot zip-front jacquard dress that looks utterly whimsical. Other than monochromatic prints, animal patterns also flourish in the new collection. Pieces like the paneled, cutaway dress combines black and white animal prints with houndstooth check and ikat, or the faux-croc chiffon blouse finished with bold black borders, collar, and cuffs look great at the office and at the club. Another “it” piece is the exaggerated leopard print cut into a boxy cocoon coat.

 The biker jacket remains a key piece and echoes many of the season’s themes as it comes in different renditions: vibrant pop-colored washed leathers, feminine oriental chrysanthemum-print jacquard, and textural multi-colored tweeds.

Karen Millen’s key accessories echo the pared-down aesthetic that matches pieces from the collection, from clean, sexy heels to streamlined bags. The pointy toe court shoe rules the season and appears in monochrome combinations, while high-heeled variations of the gladiator sandal come in python and butter-soft leather. Clean, chic totes in cut suede, woven leather and mock ostrich can give your wardrobe a refreshing look.

Perfect for urbanites and city girls, Karen Millen will surely solve your work-wear dilemmas and after-eight cocktail essentials with design-led luxury pieces on a global scale. Check out the latest collection now at Karen Millen’s first store in Bonifacio High Street Central.