Duchess approved: Jenny Packham for Debenhams

High fashion meets high street once again! Designer pieces with affordable price tags are big business these days – the latest designer to hop on the collaboration bandwagon? None other than dressmaker to the Duchess of Cambridge: Jenny Packham.

This British designer’s career is blossoming nicely, with a flagship store in London’s Mayfair and a reputation for exquisite bridal gowns. And when it comes to high fashion, you can’t go wrong with a Jenny Packham gown – just ask the Duchess! Kate, who is known for her support of British fashion, has worn Jenny Packham’s designs at three high profile events – including a stunning £3,800 shimmering gown at the ARK charity gala last year – giving the designer her royal seal of approval. Unfortunately, Jenny Packham’s beautiful but pricey dresses are a tad out of budget for most of us Kate-imitators. No more!

In order to cater to those who can’t indulge in pieces from her eponymous label, Packham is launching an affordable collection for Debenhams: No.1 Jenny Packham. Designed exclusively for the department store, the women’s, accessories and children’s range will be priced from £85 to £160.

Why Debenhams? The designer reminisced: “As a young girl I was regularly abandoned in Debenhams Southampton while my parents disappeared to search for the latest Teasmade or some other ‘must have’ electrical appliance. During this time I lost myself in the rails of 70s polyester and dreamt of a life in fashion. Therefore it is only natural that I have chosen Debenhams to launch my first High Street collection.

“My collaboration with Debenhams is a great opportunity for me to offer my signature style at an attainable price.”

Packham is in good company too – she joins the ranks of Julien Macdonald, Matthew Williamson, Roksanda Ilincic and Jonathan Saunders, who have all designed capsule collections for Debenhams.

Elegance and femininity are captured in a collection comprising 19 glamorous dresses, from organza prom to full-length maxis. Packham’s signature styles – wrapping, pleating and draping – are all there, and more. Available in soft metallics, bold block colours, graphic prints and delicate florals, there is something for every Jenny Packham fan. Accessories will include bags, jewellery, shoes and fancy headwear, starting as low as £18. The first eight dresses in the range will be launched online and in stores in April; the rest will be released throughout the summer.

With a huge celebrity fan base, including the likes of Rihanna, Keira Knightley, my personal fashion idol Blair Waldorf and, of course, the Duchess of Cambridge, Packham’s collection is a sure to be a hit with recession-minded shoppers – a chance to own a piece by one of Britain’s most successful designers for a fraction of the usual price.

The ‘No.1 Jenny Packham’ Collection launches exclusively in Debenhams stores and online April 2012. 

Khaleda Rahman