John Lewis has today announced that its latest designer collaboration will be with British couturier, Bruce Oldfield OBE.

The collaboration is no doubt a response to 2012’s hugely successful collaboration with Alice Temperley; Somerset by Alice Temperley, which was the fastest selling collection in the shop’s history.

The Bruce Oldfield label was launched in 1975. In 1978, the designer began creating bespoke couture gowns. From 1980 Diana, Princess of Wales became a regular client and famously adored his designs. Dame Helen Mirren is also a keen follower of the designer’s work.

In 1990, Oldfield was appointed an Office of the Order of the British Empire for services to the fashion industry.

The John Lewis collection, to be entitled Bruce by Bruce Oldfield, will comprise 60 ready-to-wear pieces that can be easily interchanged in a capsule wardrobe.

Pieces will reflect his signature style, with acute attention to detail and design, but available at prices ranging from £59-299.

It is the designer’s first collection outside of his couture house and for the UK high street.

The collection will retain the elongated, nipped-in silhouettes of Oldfield’s couture work, along with more relaxed, tailored pieces that reflect 1980s work wear trend, and has a bold, monochromatic palette, injected with metallic tones and fur collared-coats.

Garments are made from sumptuous velvet and silk, giving them a more expensive feel.

Pieces to look out when the collection drops include a black and white wide-striped maxi skirt and a 1930s-style sheer black t-shirt shaped dress with tear drop embellishment worn over a nude petticoat.

Bruce Oldfield has said: “I wanted to create a collection for (the John Lewis) customer that embodied my design ethos and attention to detail whilst also being accessible to a wider audience.”

“Bruce by Bruce Oldfield draws on my classic silhouettes with key pieces for any modern woman’s wardrobe; classic outerwear, juxtaposed tailoring and sumptuous eveningwear. The collection plays on a monochromatic palette, full of structure and texture and that is softened with a touch of cashmere,” the designer said.

Paula Nickolds, buying and brand director at John Lewis said: “This collection marks a new chapter in fashion for John Lewis; we are delighted to bring Bruce’s signature couture design aesthetic to our customers. The collection is the perfect balance between couture design and quality combined with ready to wear accessibility.”

Bruce Oldfield was brought up in the care of children’s charity, Barnardos, and is the Vice President of the charity. The collection will pay thanks to this – donating £20 from the sale of every ‘Little Bruce Dress’ to Barnardos.

The collection will be available in sizes 8-18 in nine stores nationwide and online from the 4th September.

Images: John Lewis