John Lewis featuring fashionista Alice Temperley

Being one of the designers favoured by the Middleton sisters, Alice Temperley has certainly made a name for herself. Temperley created the dress Kate wore to the War Horse premiere as well as this most recent white, lace, fitted dress to a tea party in Kuala Lumpur this year. With a sense of grace and elegance in her creations, Temperley makes every woman feel royal and confidence.

The infamous emerald green dress Pippa Middleton wore to her sister’s wedding reception was also exclusively designed for her by this visionary designer. Want to know more?

In 2010, ALICE by Temperley, its contemporary sister line, was launched to fulfill a need for an everyday Temperley look in a more affordable market. The collection brings Temperly’s signature pieces in a price range of £29 to £1,000.

Temperley London celebrated its 10th anniversary year in 2011 with Alice heading up the House of Temperley as one of the most distinctive voices in contemporary British fashion.

After announcing plans to strike the high street back in May, the fashionable fruits of Alice Temperley’s collaboration with John Lewis have finally been revealed to the public. Exclusive to the department store, this massive 60-piece Somerset collection, with Alice’s signature bohemian look taking centre-stage next to a delicate Victorian vibe and contracting military accents.

Hundreds of fashion fans queued up when John Lewis’s flagship shop on Oxford Street in London opened at the crack of dawn earlier this week, and in just half an hour they took a fifth of the brand’s first-day sales.

The Somerset by Alice Temperley collection for John Lewis only launched on Tuesday and has already shattered all forecasts, becoming the fastest-selling brand in the department store’s history. According to John Lewis, the collection took 11 times the usual sales in just one day, and hit its weekly sales targets by mid-afternoon.

Eager shoppers also took to the John Lewis website to snap up the goods. This phenomenal success may be thanks to a certain Duchess of Cambridge, who is often spotted in Temperley creations. What Kate wears, sells, it seems. And selling to the point of out-of-stock.

But if you missed the chance to buy some of that Somersetby Alice Temperley, do not worry. A second drop will be hitting John Lewis in early October.

The House will go on to produce 13 collections a year, including Cruise and Pre-Fall across the Temperley London and diffusion ALICE by Temperley line, and two made-to-order bridal collections as well as key collaborations with leading British names.

Temperley has even been appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) by Her Majesty the Queen at Buckingham Palace, for services to the fashion industry. Temperley was also named Designer of the Year at the 2011 Hollywood Style awards.

A star in even the stars’ own eyes – Alice Temperley is the lady to know!

Check out the collection here.

Pooja Sahny
Photos: Courtesy of Temperley London