Press day season officially kicked off this week, and there was probably no better label to get me started than the lovely Margaret Howell. It’s a brand I’ve always been aware of but never really knew until I got to see the new AW11 collection up close, and I finally got what the fuss is about: a quintessentially English label, made in England.

As I’m getting older, I’ve definitely started dressing a little bit more classic in recent years, and what I’ve lost in terms of trends I’ve traded in for better quality and timeless pieces. That’s what Margaret Howell is all about: you won’t find whacky Gaga-esque clothes, but you’ll find the perfect breton stipe sweater or crisp white shirt in the finest materials. The kind of clothes you’ll keep season after season, because they simply can’t go out of style…

There were tons of pieces I was dying to take with me right away – I know, we’re just getting started with the summer season, but you can’t go wrong with a simple shirtdress or suede brogues, right? And since the PR showed me their nightwear range, which includes “bedcashmere” (yes, bedcashmere), I’m just no longer satisfied with my simple cotton PJ’s…

This collection won’t be in shops for a while, but I can really recommend a trip down to the Margaret Howell store on Wigmore Street, just behind Oxford Street. It’s a beautiful shop and they’re currently running a little exhibition with Industrial Facility, my all-time favourite design label. Win win.