The White Company: All In The Details

It might feel like a recent trend popularised by ultra-high-end designer labels, but The White Company has been (quietly) championing quiet luxury since inception, with elevated basics and investment pieces, all made with thought and premium materials.

This year, it celebrates 30 years with a 30-piece capsule that brings together its past heritage and future vision, with a blend of comforting classics and fresh designs that nod to current trends while remaining true to the brand’s ethos.

The collection, which dropped in September, is already a hit with customers and the fashion press alike (hello, batwing leather jacket). And its appeal is all in the details: fabrics that feel noticeably more luxurious than average, and considered designs that make everything as comfortable as it is joyful.

Our AW25 Collection Highlights

Edge To Edge Wool Coat

Funnel Neck Jumper

Leather Batwing Jacket

Hoxton Wide Leg Jeans

Ribbed Oversized Jumper

Drape Front Cape

Italian Wool Mix City Coat

Double Satin V-Neck Dress

Behind the collection are two women with decades of shared expertise, resulting in beautiful, luxurious clothes that work in the real world: founder, Chrissie Rucker and the designer Sheila McKain, whose experience at Donna Karan and Oscar De La Renta, as well as Jaeger and Hush, shines through in effortless, timeless silhouettes that marry elegance with ease.

It’s no surprise to discover that McKain is also a trained sculptor, considering the attention to line and drape, and colour palette of calming, earthy tones. Elegant silhouettes, sculptural forms and subtle layering are brought to life in shades of alabaster and clay, marble and charcoal.

She drew inspiration from the Old English word, ‘apricity’ (referring to the warmth of the sun in winter) to inform a collection that's uplifting as well as comforting, joyful as well as cosy.

As part of her design process, as well as looking through The White Company’s back catalogue, McKain also referenced Chrissie Rucker’s own style archive and the pieces she’s turned to again and again, to inform a collection with real-world relevance, not just aesthetic and tactile appeal.

It’s immediately clear the collection has been created for women, by women (not just womenswear experts). Instead of spaghetti straps, for example, a soft silk cami top has straps wide enough to wear a bra underneath - meaning it’s likely to become a tried-and-trusted favourite (instead of worn once then stashed in a wardrobe indefinitely).

In the same vein is a chocolate brown satin dress with a flattering v-neck, long sleeves and pockets; wide-leg jeans with a comfortably high rise; cord utility joggers with an elasticated waist and practical pockets.

The chocolate brown batwing leather jacket is one of the collection’s most-coveted pieces, hitting the mark between timelessness, quality and of-the-moment relevance.

Apricity (Old English): the warmth of the sun in winter.

Alongside these thoughtful design details are attention to fabrication. A double-faced wool coat is effortlessly light and blanket-soft, while a roll-neck cashmere maxi dress has a pleasingly heavy drape. (The White Company takes cashmere seriously: it’s available in three different weights to suit different garment types, from bed socks to coats, and all of it is certified by The Good Cashmere Standard).

More comfort comes in the form of the company’s B Corp status, meaning it meets high standards of positive social and environmental impact.

In a world where aspects of women’s clothing are so often politicised or scrutinised, practicality and comfort are frequently undervalued and pitted against beauty and desirability. The White Company’s continued success is testament to their importance, and proof that you don't have to choose.