Buy British: Allium B Clothing

Allium B was founded by sisters Clare and Mary Burgess. They built their careers working in the buying offices of some of the high street’s biggest brands including Debenhams and Topshop. The brand was created to fill a gap in the market for grown-up, affordable dresses that were neither too old or too young, too long or too short. Working for large brands had given them the knowledge they needed to fill this gap and they launched Allium B in March 2012. 

Allium B is exclusively designed in their Brighton studio for a woman who is confident and comfortable with her own style – who knows what suits her and doesn’t feel the need to be a slave to fashion. (I’d like to think that woman is me.)

The idea behind the collection is that each style can be worn in different ways, on different occasions, through different seasons.
The name Allium B was chosen from their (and one of my) favourite flowers along with a B to represent their surname Burgess and for Brighton.

Clare and Mary wear everything from the collection themselves so they know just how Allium B dresses feel. They select beautiful fabrics – silks, cottons and georgettes and pay great attention to detail. 

They sent me two styles to see and try for myself, (along with one of their fab canvas bags), one of which they’ve very kindly let me keep. I’ll wear it and review very soon- I can’t wait, it’s gorgeous!

This is the other style, Camille £110

An easy to wear shift which can be worn loose or belted with the reversible self fabric belt. The background is an inky steely blue (it looks a slightly different hue as lighting conditions change) with a bright pink and teal trailing floral pattern. It is 100% silk and can be hand washed.The silk is beautiful with a soft sheen. It feels very expensive and well made.

The neckline is very simple lending itself to the addition of a necklace. The sleeves are a good length covering the tops of the arms and finishing above the elbow.

The models are seen here wearing it with the belt and with sandals.

Here it is without the belt and with simple sandals for a casual holiday look. The dress is loose and is easy to wear. The silk hangs beautifully and feels beautiful and very sensuous against the skin.

For a different look, one for a special occasion perhaps, I picked out the pink flower by adding a cropped cardigan and pink shoes. The dress takes on a more formal shape when worn with the belt. I like how the necklace echoes the shape of the flower. This could be dressed up further by adding a fascinator making it suitable for a wedding.

The dress is lightweight and perfect for spring and summer, but actually, adding a cord blazer and boots, would take it through to autumn too. The teal tights compliment the steely blue of the dress and pick out the teal in the pattern

I think you’ll agree that this beautiful Camille dress is incredibly versatile and could be worn in very many ways. Perfect for so many occasions. A go-to dress that is beautifully made and which would look as stylish and relevant in seasons to come as it does now.

(To give you an idea of length and fit, I’m just under 5 feet 9 tall and this dress is a size 10.)

Here are some more styles from the current Allium B collection.

If you have a wedding, christening, First Communion, holiday coming up, do go and take a look. There are separates as well as dresses and I really do think these are styles for all occasions.

I’d love to hear what your favourite style is and as I said, I’m very much looking forward to wearing my very own Allium B dress soon.

Love Liz x

The Camille dress was lent to me to try and to style.

16th March 2016: Allium B ceased trading during 2015 but I still wear my Allium B dresses!

elizabeth