Emilia Wickstead (born June 1983) is a New Zealand fashion designer based in London, England. In 2014 she won the Red Carpet Designer of the Year Award at the Elle Style Awards, and her clients include Samantha Cameron, and the Princess of Wales.[1]

Emilia Wickstead
BornJune 1983 (age 40–41)
Auckland, New Zealand
EducationCentral Saint Martins
Occupationfashion designer
Known forgraceful, understated elegance
Notable workfor Samantha Cameron, The Princess of Wales
MotherAngela Wickstead
AwardsRed Carpet Designer of the Year Award (2014)

Early life

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Melania Trump in a forest green Emilia Wickstead crepe dress, May 2019

Wickstead was born in June 1983,[2] in Auckland, New Zealand to Angela Wickstead, a designer with a boutique in Parnell.[3] At the age of 14 she and her mother moved to Milan, Italy.[1] Wickstead studied fashion design and marketing at Central Saint Martins art school in London and interned in New York at Giorgio Armani and Vogue magazine.[4][5]

Career

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At the age of 24, Wickstead's boyfriend gave her £5,000 to start her business. She created a small collection of clothes and held showings for family and friends in her living room, taking orders for made-to-measure items.[4] Her work was featured in Tatler and UK Vogue magazines, and she was able to expand, opening a store in Belgravia, and employing a team of seamstresses.[1][5] She had her first showing at London Fashion Week in 2012, and holds shows and consultations in New Zealand, New York and Milan.[5][6]

Wickstead's style has been described as "graceful", "understated elegance" and her choice of colours as "pretty but not saccharine".[4][7]

In May 2018, Wickstead claimed that the wedding dress of Meghan Markle was "identical" to one of her designs.[8]

In November 2023, Air New Zealand announced that Wickstead would be their "future uniform designer" for the new crew uniform.[9]

Recognition

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  • Shortlisted for the BFC/Vogue Fashion Fund in 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016
  • Shortlisted for a British Fashion Award for New Establishment Designer in 2014 and 2015
  • Won the Walpole Award for Brands of Tomorrow 2015
  • Shortlisted for the Veuve Clicquot Business Woman Award 2015
  • Won Elle magazine's Style Award for Red Carpet Designer of the Year 2014
  • BFC Fashion Trust recipient 2014.[6]

References

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  1. ^ a b c Walker, Zoe (1 July 2010). "Profile: Emilia Wickstead". New Zealand Herald. ISSN 1170-0777. Retrieved 18 May 2016.
  2. ^ "Wickstead Gargiulo Limited Officers (free information from Companies House)". beta.companieshouse.gov.uk. Retrieved 19 March 2018.
  3. ^ "How Emilia Wickstead conquered fashion". Stuff. 17 March 2016. Retrieved 18 May 2016.
  4. ^ a b c Mower, Sarah (4 June 2013). "London Calling: Who Is
    Emilia Wickstead?"
    . Vogue. Retrieved 18 May 2016.
  5. ^ a b c "Emilia Wickstead". The Arts Foundation. 26 September 2015. Retrieved 18 May 2016.
  6. ^ a b "London Fashion Week - Emilia Wickstead". www.londonfashionweek.co.uk. Retrieved 18 May 2016.
  7. ^ Codinha, Alessandra (16 October 2014). "From Kate Middleton to Young Hollywood: Emilia Wickstead Brings Sloane Square Style to the Red Carpet". Vogue. Retrieved 18 May 2016.
  8. ^ "Kate Middleton's favourite fashion designer rips into Meghan Markle's wedding dress". Independent.co.uk. 26 May 2018. Retrieved 28 May 2018.
  9. ^ Beckett, Tyson (6 November 2023). "Air New Zealand reveals royal favourite Emilia Wickstead to design new uniforms". Stuff. Retrieved 6 November 2023.
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  Media related to Emilia Wickstead at Wikimedia Commons