Madeleine Press

Madeleine Press might not like to shout about it, but make no mistake: she is something very special. The fashion insider’s secret weapon, the thinking woman’s designer of choice, her clothes are at once things of real beauty – exquisitely crafted, honed, tuned to perfection – and the ideal antidote to the brash, disposable fashion that we have grown so used to. These are clothes that whisper their worth with serious allure – something that her growing international clientele knows only too well.

The Madeleine Press aesthetic is a refined (and refreshingly consistent) one. Precision tailoring, with subtle but undeniable sex appeal, mixes with feminine silhouettes, spectacular knitwear and luxurious coats for a sculpted urban style that is crisp, modern and coolly unfussy. Add in the very finest fabrics, and Press’ skill for creating masterful tone-on-tone palettes and you are half way towards appreciating their appeal. But the real beauty comes in her understanding of what will make women look, and feel, wonderful.

Press knew she would be a fashion designer from the word go. Brought up with her artist father’s passion for perfecting the detail, and her mother’s instinct to make and create as much as she could (from bread to clothes), Press began sewing aged 5, and taught herself to pattern cut aged 13. Such determination and rigour mean that Press’ undeniable flair is supported by extraordinary technical skill – she cares deeply about her craft, something that becomes obvious as soon as you try on one of her designs. There is no such thing as a Madeleine Press dress that doesn’t fit the body perfectly (something the women who come back again and again when they have discovered her clothes will tell you). A jacket that looks like a simple but beautiful wardrobe staple will actually consist of over 35 separately crafted pattern pieces, to result in something that makes the wearer feel better about themselves than anything else they own. A simple under-slip – something so many other designers might overlook – is given the same care and attention as the dress is sits under, resulting in a piece as beautiful as vintage lingerie. These are clothes with real thought, love and considerable skill behind them: a rarity indeed.

Press’ attitude is as elegant as her clothes: “I want people to say, “You look fantastic”, when talking to someone wearing one of my designs, not, “That dress is amazing”. It’s about complementing the individual, not about the brand as the star.” It’s something that might go some way to explaining why Madeleine Press – despite a fiercely loyal client base, including a huge following in Japan - remains a relatively hidden treasure here. Her style evolves gently each season, rather than leaping between polar trends, and couldn’t be less interested in ticking the latest ‘now’ boxes. Ironically, such single-mindedness results in collections packed with the sort of cool panache and elegant detailing that inevitably seem on-trend.

See all of Madelein Press's designs