Katherine Hooker and the Duchess of Cambridge share more than a first name; the stylish Londoners have mastered the distinction between conservative and commonplace—expert tailoring. Though the designer’s following truly exploded after Kate Middleton landed on best-dressed lists wearing the designer’s widely popular Buxton and Contrast coats, to her credit, the U.K.-based design veteran had cultivated quite a respectable clientele prior to that (aside from Middleton, she counts Yoko Ono, Meryl Streep, and Zoe Saldana as A-list fans). Luckily for stateside coveteurs of Hooker’s line, she’s brought her New York pop-up shop back to Soho for its third season (it’s her only bricks-and-mortar presence outside of London), where they can buy pieces from her ready-to-wear line (Fall ‘12 and Spring ‘13) or make use of her made-to-order services.
“[Kate] is an absolutely lovely person, and she’s got great style,” Hooker tells Style.com of her royal fan. “She’s had a very positive impact and is a fantastic person to have on all sides affecting [our growth].” Growth, indeed. Over a decade ago, Hooker traveled to India in hopes of replicating a beloved vintage jacket; 20 attempts and six silhouettes later, she returned to England with a newfound fashion addiction. Nowadays, her offerings include menswear, waistcoats, and accessories—particularly, a hot-off-the-press Harvey messenger bag. Though Ms. Middleton hasn’t placed her requests for next season, we can already see her in numbers like the Cain blazer and matching pencil skirt. We’d suggest you place your order now. The designer is set to expand her U.S. presence in the near future, starting with a New York showroom. Here, a first look at her Spring ‘13 collection.
The Katherine Hooker pop-up shop, open through October 14, is located at 436 Broadway, NYC.
—Amber Elliott
Photo: Courtesy of Katherine Hooker
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