Kim Winser, OBE, is a shrewd business woman whose previous “jobs” include sitting on the Board at M&S (she was the retailer’s youngest appointed divisional director), as well as running and revitalising British heritage brands Pringle and Aquascutum. She’s a smart cookie, to say the least. Noticing a gap in the market for women who don’t want to wear short dresses (and, while we’re on the subject, would probably rather cover up their arms too), Winser decided to set up her own label in an attempt to deliver chic, easy-to-look-after and wearable clothes to a market of busy women who want to look super stylish without breaking her bank.
Since I turned 30 (I know, you wouldn’t believe it would you?), I have found that my wardrobe doesn’t always contain what I’m looking for. I no longer want a prom shaped dress (a skirt, yes), nor a strapless top, nor a short dress or low slung jeans. I want dresses that skim and flatter the body, of a good length and made with a quality fabric. As I’ve grown, so too have my sartorial needs; I now want clothes that are stylish, but appropriate. Of course, I want to look chic and current, but I want to be comfortable too. (Jeez, am I middle aged or what?)
So, when an excellent public relations exec I’d worked with in the past emailed me from her new desk at Winser London, I was excited to hear from her. Sadly, I was snowed under at a magazine whose readership wasn’t right for the label, so I filed a mental note to follow up later… and now that I have more time on my hands for my freelancing and my blog, I’ve had the time to road test the label. Perfect timing with all these changes happening age-wise and fashion-wise. I was especially excited to learn about the MiracleDress, which I took out on the town last weekend to see if it lived up to its name.
The Miracle Dress comes in three styles: a long sleeved, high neck version, a sleeveless shift dress and the Lauren Miracle Dress, with long sleeves and short v-neck. They come in neutral colours (e.g. black, navy, dove grey) and two brights – Winser blue and Hollywood red.
I chose the classic Miracle Dress with sleeves in Hollywood red in a size 12. I’m usually a 12-14, depending on the label/shop, but the 12 arrived and it was too baggy on the top half. I thought a smaller size would be too tight across the hips, but when I tried it on, I felt amazing! I was surprised that a size 10 dress fit me in all areas – there’s something about the fabric and design that magically moulds and sculpts. I would highly recommend going a size down when choosing your Winser dress.
I wore the dress out to dinner and felt fabulous – the colour was vibrant (and classic, so good for any season), the pleat detail at the waist was flattering and the mid-length sleeve made me feel really rather chic and grown up. I wore mine with black sandals and a black shoulder bag for dinner, but the Miracle Dress would work well for day with a good jacket, simple courts and an oversize bag. I actually can’t wait to wear it again!
I would highly recommend anyone who likes to feel “safe” in their dresses to try Winser London. I’d go so far as to say that the Miracle Dress really is a miracle! At £135, it’s not cheap, but the quality (the finish is beautiful – covered zips, etc), fabric and structure make this a sound investment. Especially when you consider the prices some high street shops charge for dresses that are of a lesser quality, and that the brain power behind Winser London has come from an extremely credible background with a wealth of experience in both high street and high end fashion.
It’s pretty clear to me that Winser London is a shopping no-brainer for women who want a certain amount of structure with a hell of a lot of style. Ten out of ten.
Make sure you take a look at the Winser London website – they have really good posts such as style tips and interviews with cool women, such as Fashion Foie Gras.
Thanks to my darling husband for taking photos for me, again!
Thanks to my darling husband for taking photos for me, again!
Dress: Miracle Dress by Winser London
Bag: Lulu Guinness
Shoes: Primark
Sunglasses: Dolce &; Gabbana
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