Out of this World
Conceived pre-pandemic, Kate Halfpenny imagined her new Out of This World collection would be a dreamy, other-worldly edit of intricate beading and detailed embroidery, fuelled by the designer’s insatiable love of textiles. However, the last six months forced the world to pause and this unexpected break allowed Kate a period of self-reflection. Kate pivoted her focus and instead of the mystical designs she initially imagined, a different aesthetic emerged with clean shapes and her signature graphic lines juxtaposed with feather-light embellishments and exaggerated proportions. With these new pieces, Kate Halfpenny offers a collection which is at once Out of this World and also firmly rooted in her reality.
“When we went into lockdown, the thought of completing a new collection couldn’t have been further from my mind. The new designs I’d been so excited about only a few short weeks before were shelved, the tech drawings for the decadent beading we’d been working on for months were pushed to the side and the test swatches were pinned back on the moodboard as the entire team worked incredibly hard to look after our wonderful brides in a time of crisis.
As the time went on and we all got used to this ‘new normal’, I found myself alone with my thoughts for the first time in years. The initial seed of inspiration was from a book of words by Katie Paterson, “A place that exists only in moonlight”, which my husband had brought me from the Turner exhibition. I sought it out and opened it to find my son, Sylvester, had drawn on the pages. I was horrified at first, but the more I looked, the more beautiful I found it. I don’t know how many copies were printed but there will never be another like this. Sylvester had made it completely, uniquely mine. There and then, I knew exactly what to do. Instead of looking out, I decided to look in and realised I had everything I needed right there in front of me.
More often than not, my designs start with a magnificent fabric and the shape grows in front of my eyes. Out of This World was going to be a celebration of my love affair with textiles yet, suddenly, alone with my pencil and sketchbook, the designs which had been so detailed in my imagination began to change. I took the silhouettes which had already been designed for Out of this World and married them with existing Halfpenny London hero fabrics. Instead of beading we showcased the exquisite patterns and expert construction by adding piping, accentuating the seams. With Out of this World, we’re continuing our efforts to design with a conscience and be kind to our planet. Committed to taking further steps towards sustainability in every way we can, opportunities to repurpose waste fabrics presented themselves in the form of decorative hearts, flowers and other embellishment. As a result, Out of this World is a celebration of Halfpenny London past, present and future.
I’ve held onto many designs and will set them free when the time is right. It looks very different to how I initially imagined it would but I’ve kept the name as a reminder that things don’t always turn out how you planned and beauty, like love, often looks quite different to how you imagined. It can be right under your nose and all you have to do is stop for a moment and look for it.”
Kate Halfpenny, Founder & Designer
Out of this World is an edit of interchangeable separates, dresses and accessories, including detachable sleeves, overskirts and capes which completely transform a sleek dress, offering a sought-after day-to-night transformation or an opportunity to re-wear elements of a wedding look for a low-key ceremony, then again for a huge party at a later date. All pieces seamlessly integrate into Halfpenny London’s existing offering, allowing brides-to-be of all shapes and sizes more choice than ever before to create a wedding outfit uniquely their own.
Halfpenny London Out of this World
Out of this World Collection
Download the Press kit for Designer X
Download presskitAsk Halfpenny London about Out of this World
Your question was submitted successfully
After the designer has answered it will appear here
