Who actually wears Cabbagees & Roses?

[PaeoniaPlease]

*please excuse the typo in the title!

Newbie here. I'm from the US but love British style and follow British fashion and culture. There's one question to which I can't seem to find the answer - who is actually wearing Cabbages & Roses clothing?

I've really loved Cabbages & Roses lately, but few in the US seems to even be aware of this brand. I know it's a very small brand. I'm also aware that it is not "in style" or even very practical. It would be considered really "out-there" in the US.

My question is - is this brand something that is actually worn by British women? If so, who is actually wearing this brand? Is it 25 year old "Fashionistas", "Cottage Core" girls, the so-called "Turnip Toffs?"
Rich middle aged women? Younger girls with good jobs and large available balances on their credit cards? Mom types?

Have you ever seen someone wearing one of their signature flowy/billowy dresses in public? What type of person were they? How would you describe them?

Thank you for any insight!

I remember that thread @BlossomBlossomBlossom 😂 admittedly the outfit was not to my taste but I didn't take it personally, and a lot of folk did!

I remember the Cawley Studio Bridal thread. It was unnecessarily vicious.

Cawley Studio Bridal

The galleon skirt is fabulous; as is this dress.

I first came across C&R years ago in this article by the knitwear designer Kate Davies:

katedaviesdesigns.com/2011/12/07/i-heart-cabbages-roses/

I prefer the aesthetic from those days, to the current one.

Some of the coat dresses from Sondeflor are a good alternative at a slightly more accessible price point.

https://sondeflor.com/collections/the-twill-linen/products/victorian-coat-twill-linen-night-navy

Although born of Italian and South American parentage, I have lived in England for all of my life.

Christina Strutt, from the interview with Kate Davies above. How fascinating that the creator of such a quintessentially English brand came from outside English heritage herself. This does seem to be A Thing in the world of design: the outside eye or, should I say, the inside eye but from a broader perspective.

Thanks @MmePoppySeedDefage, that was a pleasure to read.

I'd never heard of them and googled. I have two Insta loving nieces in their 20s and they definitely would not wear them. I'm based in the north west (different to London) and I don't think I ever see anyone wearing clothes like that- probably the closest would be middle class mums.

Oh I loved that Droopy and Brown shop. I bought a navy wool crepe suit with a peplum waist which I absolutely loved. It was £150 approx in 1985 and cost me a week’s wages. About five years ago we downsized and I had a huge clear-out. After offering it to my daughters I stupidly gave it to a charity shop and have regretted it ever since. Luckily I kept two milk maid Made in Wales Laura Ashley dresses. They are tiny, the size 14 barely fits my size 10 daughter.

I love that Galleon skirt!

I’ve enjoyed this thread even though C&R is very much not to my taste. I enjoy looking at style which is outside my comfort zone. I saw a Tik Tok recently of fashion from Cheltenham races and I was slightly open mouthed in a kind of delighted shock at how different the fashions were to what I’m used to. ( I work in Central London). I didn’t even know the brand they were mostly wearing.

Anyway some of C&R reminded me of Olive Clothing https://www.oliveclothing.com/new/

and Plumo

https://www.plumo.com/?gclid=Cj0KCQjwzZmwBhD8ARIsAH4v1gUrVb9pfz9HDVK8faSKI3iMpeCRULri3k8H9_kV76rdJQacluR4ZXMaAuH5EALw_wcB

Im not suggesting for one minute anyone should dilute their style down to be acceptable to anyone else but these are slightly cheaper options. ( and definitely more widely worn)

As for stepping out your comfort zone…. I think it can be more difficult in smaller places where you’re quite well known and there isn’t a culture of dressing up. Saying that, even London is quite casual nowadays. I keep flying the flag for dressing up and have had a busy month at the opera, theatre and a gig and make an effort for all of those because if you can’t dress up at those places where can you. Do you want to end up in a retirement home never having worn the things that made your heart sing?

There’s no shame in being eccentric and if you can stand me banging on a bit more I’ve met a lovely eccentric old lady in my town. She’s in her 80’s and she wears pink cowboy boots to go with her pink hair and pairs it with a 1930’s style fur coat which I suspect is original. She has an absolutely cut glass English accent and she tells me she used to be an actress in her youth. She’s always off for a glass of champagne. Don’t you think life would be more fun if we all channelled a bit of that energy?

Do you want to end up in a retirement home never having worn the things that made your heart sing?

I have no intention of ever ceasing to wear clothes that bring me pleasure, but since I turned 60 I’ve been much more conscious of building up a wardrobe against an unpredictable future. I’ve noticed on MN, when people are asking for help kitting out very elderly parents, all the suggestions are for absolutely vile, cheap as chips rubbish - as if old people aren’t worth nice clothes. So now if I see something lovely by The Elder Statesman, massively reduced in the sales (oh God, what will I do without Matches? 😭) I hesitate less.

What a lovely thread! I love looking at sites I have never heard of, TBH, none of them are my 'style' but I love the chat and the supportive nature of the posters on here, keep going ladies and keep bringing me new ideas

@BlossomBlossomBlossom my thoughts exactly. In my 60s now and owning the best wardrobe I have ever had! Not 'classic', not me at all but expensive pieces that I love wearing and will last. Also I love finding pre loved designer pieces, wonderful quality and a joy to own.

Thank you @OooScotland I guess it must be quite hard for the new designer to strike that balance between establishing her own identity and keeping things fresh while still staying true to the C&R look/ethos, especially when she's literally part of the family. I'll cut her some slack for a year or so, although it's easy to say that when I can normally only afford them at final markdowns time.

https://www.tkmaxx.com/uk/en/womens-gold-label/gold-label-clothing/purple+pink-ombre-cashmere-trousers/p/12195333?utm_source=Google&utm_medium=OrganicShopping&utm_campaign=GoogleShopping&utm_term=1219533308016&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjwzZmwBhD8ARIsAH4v1gWf1Q-emV-WD2WBfWi-umDF6pCw361LbTAdstiRZKuWa2cGZe2KsZQaAr6gEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

I don’t know The Elder Statesmen but as someone bored of my minimalist wardrobe I’m intrigued to see it popping up at TK Maxx.

I don't think there's a huge difference between then and now.

What is striking is how contemporary the styling in those photos still looks.

Elder Statesman at TK Maxx? Oh no! I am ruined!

Thankfully I don’t much like ombré or tie dye so can resist the two pieces currently on the website. In truth I wouldn’t wear an awful lot of their stuff, even if I was given it for free, but there are always a few gorgeous things each season. And the quality and craft is off the scale. I have a different pair of shorts, (Net a Porter sale long ago) that are comprised of two layers of cashmere. Eventually I’ll find the matching cardigan jacket (for pennies) and will snap it up. I’m going to look banging in that old people’s home.

@thebabessavedme I’m currently waiting for delivery of a Margaret Howell skirt via Vestiaire. Most of my tiny collection of skirts are intricately woven tweed that could almost stand up by themselves, (the last was Sofie D’Hoore, also from Vestiare after falling in love with it a few seasons previous) but they’re too fancy for occasions where I don’t necessarily want to look like someone whose brain is 99% clobber. So this very plain A line thing should be perfect.

This has just popped up in my inbox.

Makes Cabbages and Roses look almost utilitarian. !

Egg does call for a somewhat rarefied lifestyle, @IHaveNeverLivedintheCastle!

This photo is very much how my older and younger relatives will be accoutred at my fantasy wedding.

I have enjoyed this thread so much. Thank you everyone, especially @OooScotland for your fantastic post.

I think it’s the very particular styling in their marketing that makes C and R seem like something that nobody in real life is actually wearing. Somebody must be or they’d not have a business but they’re not wearing everything from the collection at once. I’ve no doubt that there are a few devotees who have made Cabbages and Roses their whole personality, and will wear complete outfits. You’d notice the C and R style on them. But If I were to wear one of those big brocade frock coats with jeans and a shirt rather than with one of their dresses in a contrasting print and for another season, droopy socks and a pair of laced boots then it would still be a beautiful coat but it wouldn’t scream the brand’s aesthetic.

I can think of a few brands that are like this, where the ‘look’ they advertise is miles away from how most customers wear the clothes. I wear a lot of Toast, particularly their trousers and jeans. I wear them in my own way and don’t do the blouses, tank tops, socks and sensible shoes thing they have going on. Therefore I don’t look anything like the love it or hate it Toast style that divides opinion here. They’re just great quality, slightly interesting trousers that suit my shape. I find Cos the same. If you wear it without the ankle socks and the directional haircut, totally different vibe.

The C and R styling is miles away from what I like to look like, but I can see lots of individual items I would enjoy wearing.

If anyone has a few hours to kill and fancies a rabbit hole, google Magnolia Pearl. It’s this ‘one brand as a whole look’ concept thing taken to its farthest extreme and is quite the thing. To my eyes they are some of the most horrendous clothes I’ve ever seen. It’s shockingly expensive, can’t imagine wearing any of it, with or without having a whole ensemble, and some
of their style references are downright uncomfortable. But it’s the Cabbages and Roses concept turned up to 100% and I find it fascinating.

It's very true about the overall look. C&R, Toast, Egg, Oska Ischiko and Gudrun are the same, to name a few.

They all have a way of styling for a lifestyle which may well be imaginary but it doesn't prevent any of it being perfectly wearable on a daily basis.

God what a hideous selection of clothes. Totally reminds me of Johnsons current wife. 🤢

Yes, the imaginary lifestyle! I think you need to have a degree of knowledge of your style and style in general (or, honestly, just be too young and beautiful for it to matter much) to make it work for real life. Copying looks straight from the website looks a bit silly and not terribly stylish on most of us, but being able to take individual pieces and make them work for a normal life has a certain cachet, which I think is part of the appeal for both buyer and seller of these highly styled brands.

I own quite a lot from Cos and it’s all very wearable and worn often, but it’s hard bloody work to buy from there and get it right, I think. Deliberately so. Makes it a tiny bit inaccessible and aspirational. I was very fond of the sadly departed Kin at John Lewis - similar clothes without all of the high concept. A great deal easier to buy a pair of slightly out of your comfort zone barrel leg jeans if they’re paired with a T-shirt and a pair of white pumps rather than an evening bag and a platform heeled quilted mule in a challenging colour. Even though they’re by and large the same trousers.

What an interesting thread, thanks OP.

Well @Tinymrscollings that Magnolia Pearl website really is spectacular, thank you 😁. 'Trustafarians cosplaying as 1990s crusties' springs immediately to mind. I cannot criticise the styling too much as I myself have worn a top hat, outside on purpose, and not for Halloween.

When you’ve recovered, Google the house that the designer lives in. Never in all my life. It’s an ugly brand and they’ve done some astoundingly offensive things in their quest to be the real-life Derelicte, but it couldn’t be said that they haven’t found an aesthetic and stuck with it