Smith, Paul

Paul Smith (‘Sir’ since 2001), is the son of a draper who began his fashion career by opening a boutique, ‘Paul Smith Vêtement Pour Homme’ on Byard Lane, Nottingham, England in 1970. He developed his own designs with the help of his RCA-trained partner (now wife), Pauline Denyer, and showed his first menswear collection in Paris in 1976. In 1994, he launched the ‘Paul Smith Women’ label.

Paul Smith’s collections are produced largely in Italy and the UK. His classically tailored suits are distinguished by quirky details, colours and materials, while his shirts, dresses and casual separates often use colourful prints. He sold curios and unique accessories in his Covent Garden shop (opened in the late 1970s) from the start (it was one of the first fashionable outlets for the Filofax). This marketing of desirable clutter in highly stylish stores has expanded into the launch of several lines of accessories and furnishing, all elaborating on favourite themes such as travel, art collecting and English eccentricity. Now widely licensed (for the non-clothing lines) and including the labels Paul Smith Jeans, PS by Paul Smith, Paul Smith London, R.Newbold and Paul Smith Shoes, amongst others, the brand is extremely popular in the Far East.

The Paul Smith Black label was launched in Summer 2005, described by the company as ‘a luxurious tailored collection identified by its fit; its detailing and its inevitable twist on classics in subtle colours’. ‘Black’ and its more youthful ‘Pink’ companion label (from 2004 onwards) are women’s diffusion lines, while the core ladieswear catwalk collection goes under the ‘Blue’ mantle.

Written by vintage-voyager.com

from an early 2000s skirt

Courtesy of vintage-voyager.com

from a summer 2005 novelty shoe print skirt

Courtesy of vintage-voyager.com