Does anyone else not ‘get’ Kettlewell?

[slowraindrop]

I’m in my early 40s and had a colour and style analysis a few years ago, which gave me a much better idea of what clothes and colours suit me best.

I really want to like the Kettlewell stuff, which is colour coded for seasons. I’ve got a couple of tops from them to go under jumpers / jumpsuits etc. But generally the clothes seem so dated - e.g. loads of waterfall style cardigans.

I imagine they’d do really well if they focused on fewer, well made, more on trend pieces in a smaller range of colours. Perhaps a bit more like Community Clothing. But am I missing something?! They seem to have a cult Facebook following!

They do a range of basics in lots of season-coded colours though don’t they? Tshirts, vests, A line skirts, wide leg trousers…. They’ve never tried to promote themselves as wildly fashionable. Their USP is their range of colours.

I imagine the waterfall cardis and wrap dresses are a nod to their clientele who got their colours done when it was fashionable in the 1990s.

They are very dated, but I once said that on this board and got slated.

I think they are overpriced for what they are as well.

They do a range of basics, yes, but for example the plain v neck T shirts I have from Next this year are in a much more contemporary cut than Kettlewell’s.

I agree they’re expensive - the quality of the tops I have from them is decent, but I wouldn’t say super premium.

Over priced and twee. I have no idea the demographic who actually buys their stuff - someone may come on and enlighten me - because it’s so frumpsville but not cheap either.

I had my colours done and am on some sale/swap groups for Kettlewell. I like the idea but there is often just hardly anything I want to buy. The items I have bought have often stayed in the wardrobe or been sold on, except some basic camisoles. The quality is pretty good but I don't seem to get on with all the jersey fabric. There are alternatives like Colorful Standard, Benetton, Community Clothing who do a good range of colours.
Having said that they do bring out new shapes each season so they are probably worth a look from time to time.

Well heeled country ladies

The concept is great, its just that the styles - basics aside - are dated.

I think it stems from the owner's personal style, she's middle aged (as am i) and she has a very girlish/classic style and is very model-like (so doesn't fear the clingy jersey that dominates Kettlewell offerings which can hug rolls).

As a pale, blonde, blue/grey eyed person though, it's sometimes the only place I can find colours that suit me, in a fashion world filled with black, white, burgundy and dark brown. I have to say though that the quality and customer service is excellent and they have started to introduce more boxy styles now.

I've bought well made v neck tees and jackets. Only plain colours, the patterned stuff seems very dated.

Kettlewell were one of the few places that I found did double layer tops - a kind of tighter under layer and a looser one on top, in plain colours. For someone with extra rolls, that was what I needed to disguise it (well, a little). I didn't care that it wasn't very fashionable. It was expensive though for what it was.

It's definitely the styles. The quality and colour ranges is good. I can see myself revisiting in 20-30 years (if they and I am still around) as some of the older ladies on the Facebook group look great.

I have a few things from there over the years, but the sizing is inconsistent and some of the fits are bizarre. I have two drape-neck, 2 layer tops, in different colours. Both developed holes (in different places). They are the same size, but one I have to wear a vest underneath, else it becomes indecent if I lean. I have another top (different style), in a smaller size, that is massive. I like the idea of Kettlewell, but don't like the patterns, and I find that for 'my colours' there seems to be a more limited choice.

Edited for spelling error

What season are you @RainyDaysAndGlumDays ? I find that there's an over representation of Autumn in the range - just like there is in other shops.

I also find that there's an over abundance of ditsy prints and florals too. Like somebody up-thread said, it's a bit twee. I think they'd do well to get a proper fashion designer in, someone young.

Yes @RainyDaysAndGlumDays a proper fashion designer would be a good shout.

And @Game0fCrones that’s an interesting observation about the founder’s style. I wouldn’t have thought she’d have as much of a say now, given Kettlewell has a parent company, but who knows how it works.

I suppose the thing I can’t get my head around is that they do seem to position themselves as stylists as well as colour experts (you can go to HQ and have an analysis), but the overall vibe doesn’t seem to me to be that stylish. It feels like there’s scope for them to be more ambitious. But as others say, perhaps I’m just not in their target market.

OP what did your style analysis say? I don’t get on with Kettlewell stuff especially but I need texture and it’s mostly smooth viscose jersey, which doesn’t really work for me.

As a PP said the owner is tall, slim and girlish (ingenue maybe?). It looks like one of the stylists is encouraging more casual and youthful looks but it’s always going to be good for basics and accessories and not a head to toe brand for most people.

I think they came into their own around lockdown when a lot of customers joined their Facebook group. It’s also a part of the whole phenomenon of losing and then finding your way through life stages, weight changes etc and it looks like customers appreciate feeling supported through what can feel like a lonely process.

I buy their basic v neck t shirts because on the high street I’m stuck with navy, black and white. All the other common colours don’t suit me (winter). I’ve looked and looked, but it’s hard to find jewel tones or ice colours, and if I do, often the neckline is wrong or the style too boxy for me.

I would never buy their prints or patterns, and I don’t mind if my trousers are boring black or navy, but I do like to occasionally wear a brighter top.

Apparently they’re very exacting with colour at the manufacturing stage, so everything in a given shade is meant to match everything else in that shade, and you know if you buy something meant for your season it’s not going to arrive and be in a completely unexpected colour, like if you’re expecting an optic white tee and it turns out to be off white or whatever.

Not everyone is onboard with colour analysis but it helped me so much when I was feeling old and lost. DH was a skeptic until my mum had it done and it was such a dramatic change he had it done himself.

I used an independent stylist and came out as a spring, which I hadn’t expected as I’d thought I was cooler toned. My style tends to be clean lines but a bit playful, so I love stuff that’s quite boxy but in interesting colours.

I’ve just bought a gorgeous set from elsewhere that’s a boxy but soft cotton jacket with wide legged cropped trousers, and it actually goes well with a Kettlewell striped top. But I’d love, say, an equivalent boxy or bomber jacket from Kettlewell, instead of their trad denim or biker jacket offerings.

Yes the warm/cool thing can be confusing.

Did you have a style analysis? Romantic, natural, gamine etc? Usually but not always based on the Kibbe system. That explains the Kettlewell styles imo. Lots of fitted, smooth, cropped things, smaller scale prints etc for smaller (gamine) women.

They did have a boxy tee and a knitted coord with a boxy jumper and fitted skirt but I’m not sure those sold well.

This thread has encouraged me to have a look at their website again. I see they are selling Celtic & Co stuff. Maybe they are trying to attract a wider audience.

That's probably because Kettlewell & Celtic & Co are owned by Refined Brands. They also own Frugi & Turtledoves.
I like the range of colours but the styles are dated eg the faux suede jackets & the prints. I wish they were more modern.

i find that Kettlewell stuff shrinks slightly in the wash

The idea of a range of basics, in multiple colours is good, but this 63 year old finds it very dated and not anything that I'd purchase.

I find the shapes very dated, and I had a few things through my hands in a second hand shop, the quality didn’t seem that special. Especially some linen pieces.
That said, a friend who was a stylist for wealthy clients told me that lots of people like to buy stacks and stacks of the same basics in a variety of colours regardless of cost, so perhaps that’s a typical customer ?

They seem expensive and a bit boring

never sure what my size is

I love Kettlewell and have done for years, they are the only company that sell tops in the kind of colours I like (neon green, cornflower blue just two examples).

I don’t like their prints and just stick to their basic t shirts, which are well made and can last years, so worth the money in my opinion. I look elsewhere for variety and can never find what I want. M&S t shirts never fit me and nowhere else does basic t shirts in such a large range of colours.

To each their own, I have never seen the appeal of Uniqlo, and am baffled at the love people have for Toast 🤷‍♀️