Roksanda Does it Again

Roksanda Ilincic returns to the High Street

By Caitlin Leslie

While H&M couples up with the biggest, best-known design names (Karl Lagerfeld and Jimmy Choo, anyone?) Whistles, which has been revamped by former Topshop brand director Jane Shepherdson, has chosen to work with a less ‘mainstream’ designer on a smaller but more dramatic collection.  

The designer’s first capsule range for Whistles last autumn was a sell-out hit, and this has been reflected in the decision to expand this second collection from seven to ten pieces. Roksanda Ilincic’s high street contributions are exciting precisely because they don’t look like it – unlike Christopher Kane’s pieces for Topshop, the Whistles range of cocktail dresses is much more than just a watered-down version of the designer’s LFW collection. In a range of vivid shades – lavender, petrol blue, sunflower yellow and the palest nude tones – the collection showcases whimsical draping, hardware details, oversized bows and gemlike embellishments; all typically Ilincic looks, all guaranteed to turn heads.

Starting at £250, this is no Giles Deacon for New Look. But the collection is arguably as lustworthy as some of the four-figure dresses that Ilincic shows on the catwalk every season. Even if they’re out of your price range, or you wouldn’t have anywhere to wear them other than the Summer Ball, I recommend checking them out before they’re all gone.

Available in selected stores and online from April 1^st.