the heritage collection – lydia millen x karen millen autumn ’21

I didn’t sleep at all on Sunday night… the classic Lydia response to something exciting happening in my life is to go through how it might roll out a million times in my head. I immediately revert back to that little girl at Christmas – “Is it time?? Can I get up now?? I simply cannot wait any longer!”. And then it was time. I woke up, had my usual busy morning start to the day like I do on any Monday, and began counting the hours down. Yesterday at 5PM I revealed a project that is so close to my heart. So much energy, thought, and time has gone into this, because, well, it is my newest masterpiece (if I do say so myself!). Introducing Lydia Millen x Karen Millen – The Heritage Collection Autumn ’21… and let me tell you – we have absolutely nailed this one.

The Dream Team

I think there are so many fashion lovers out there who dream about designing their own collections, and this was definitely always something that I had thought about doing but wasn’t quite sure how to execute. So this is how it went down – I’ve been asked by multiple companies to collaborate with them over the years, but never really found the right fit. When I was asked by Karen Millen, a brand I been wearing for years and was a personal fan wayyy before I even got into blogging, I felt immediately a sense of belonging that I think is crucial for any partnership of this scope. I’ll tell you why it was a dream to work with Karen Millen. The perfectionist side of Lydia has been analysing every detail to make sure that it is exactly the vision I wanted to achieve, and the team that I worked with to create The Heritage Collection truly listened to every single word of feedback that I gave them. Never once did I feel steamrolled or belittled because I am not technically a designer. They carefully put my thoughts into beautifully constructed designs, and tweaked any aspects I felt needed fixing. When I say that the Karen Millen team was incredible to work with, it is an absolute understatement.

The Inspiration

As the long summer days fall into golden autumn evenings, I hope to bring you a collection bursting with heritage classics, timeless autumnal hues and cold weather comforts. The inspiration for The Heritage Collection began years ago in the curation of my own wardrobe of heritage classic pieces since moving to the English countryside. With our home nestled amongst farmland, the Autumn season is when the fields and land come alive and with that the first pieces of this collection came to life. Luxe leather accessories bind this collection together and with the resurrection of equestrian style the time has come to dust off old leather riding boots, classic corset belts and elegant top handled bags to contrast the earthy tones of The Heritage Collection.

The Styling

One of the aspects that I love about my collection is the versatility and the wearability of all of the items. I have chosen colour-ways that compliment all skin-tones, and cater to a range of body shapes and sizes. The key to autumn styling is all in the layering not just for the finished look of the outfit but functionality too. In England our seasons are erratic and every day dressing is an art form in its own right, layering tone on tone knitwear is my favourite way to stay cosy without compromising on style. I obviously adore every piece that I have hand-selected from my collection, but there are a few that really speak to me

My Favourites from The Collection

The Sleeveless Shooting Jacket

I think that the sleeveless jacket look is one of unparalleled elegance. It’s just not something that you see in many collections these days, and I think it that timeless quality of old-world sophistication that I was hoping to achieve with this collection

The Jumping Pants

In an age of loungewear and comfort is king – I choose to live a large part of my life in cosy pieces like my Jumping Pants. And an added bonus – they hug you in all of the right places and have that desirable high-waist which smoothes anything you might want smoothing.

All Of The Chunky Knitwear Pieces

How could I choose amongst all of the knitwear? I love it all frankly. My inspiration behind the knitwear was texture and effortlessness. The colours and weight of the fabrics were crucial in the design, as I am such a knit snob.

Pin Tuck Blouse

Every girl should have a go-to blouse that makes any outfit come to life – that blouse that makes you feel pretty, all while making you feel confident and stylish. If I may, this is the blouse that ticks all of those boxes. The perfect balance between day and evening, it is an absolute must-have.

The Oatmeal Italian Wool Coat

All a girl really needs for an autumn wardrove is a great handbag, great boots, and a great coat in my books. My piece-de-resistance is definitely the Italian Wool Coat – no one does materials like the Italians so I chose to really focus on quality for this one. It will last you a lifetime, and really works for so many different body-types.

I would love to hear from you!

I’m so excited to see what you are liking from the collection – I have my hunches about what might perform best, but it’s always so intriguing to see the final results. As always thank you for your support – I wouldn’t be able to do what I do without you, and I’ll forever be grateful.