At last, a collection of clothes that women actually want to wear
‘There’s an element of doing something from the heart,’ says Jo Hooper, founder and CEO of NRBY clothing over the phone, ‘I’m 60 and Tracey is 63, (Cecilia our model is 58), it all came together very naturally’. We’re talking about her autumn/winter limited edition collaboration with the award-winning designer Tracey Boyd. A luxurious collection of 11 pieces, including: a beautiful painted silk showstopper dress, a sumptuous silk-blend, painted velvet robe and a lovely selection of highly wearable, silk and velvet separates. Designed to go from day to evening and last forever.
‘These are real clothes for real women,’ continues Jo, ‘ Our customer knows if she’s spending £300, the fabric will be a good weight, the garment will be well made with French seams. It’s about buying less, buying better. She wants versatility and pounds per wear. The floral silk dress can be worn with summer sandals, or last year’s velvet jacket and riding boots. All our clothes are washable and made from natural fibres – I haven’t been to the dry cleaners for five years! ‘
This is a return to the fashion world for Tracey Boyd, the designer had an eponymous label in the late-90s and was awarded Best New Generation Designer at the British Fashion Awards, in 2000. Trading in the catwalk frenzy for furniture design, she has been commissioned by companies including Anthropologie and At Home in the US; and recently designed the interiors for six luxury treehouses in Gloucester.
The pair met back in 2000, when Jo was working on Designers at Debenhams, and have remained friends ever since. ‘It feels kind of amazing,’ says Tracey over the phone, from her cottage in Dorset, ‘ I wanted to design something women want to wear. To take wardrobe staples and turn them into something special-not-shouty; day to evening with a little bit extra. These are special clothes but you can always take it back to your jeans. A lot of fashion today is very try-hard…’
So, how does it feel to be back in fashion? ‘ Strange and lovely!’ Tracey laughs, ‘Designing is sort of like muscle memory and Jo was so open and easy to work with. Fashion has changed and how we dress is different today; I really liked bringing my signature to NRBY – and getting the balance came very easily ‘.
Could the collaboration only have happened now that the pair are a bit older? ‘ In a funny way, yes , ‘ Jo admits, ‘ With all our skill, expertise and talent! We’ve both mellowed massively over the years. She pushed us a little bit in terms of colour and print, we pulled her a bit in terms of relaxing the shape. It’s the perfect scenario – when you come towards each other and capture the magic.’
And the good news is this pair of 60-something women have already started designing a collection for next spring.
Jo Hooper (left) and Tracey Boyd (right) working on the collection
See the full BOYD x NRBY designer collaboration HERE. And more slinky velvet from the main range, below:
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Discussion (21 Comments)
Hi Annette, I know from experience that care instructions err on the side of caution but I asked Jo about washing the velvet and this is what she said, ‘ Yes, I do hand wash mine – but it does require care and commitment to steam and return the velvet to its original loveliness. Some of my friends have “ruined” theirs, so to be super cautious we have added dry clean. You can do either, but DON’T wash a tailored jacket please – the internal structure will never recover!’
Mrs Tonia says:
Stunning clothing on an equally stunning Cecilia Chancellor. I saw the black dress with large poppies elsewhere and thought it a super dress. I always like slinky velvet garments too.
Ah Designers at Debenhams. I miss that range. I bought Betty Jackson and John Rocha garments there. Plus Patrick Grant and Jasper Conran for my sons.
Thanks for showing us these clothes today.Cecilia looks fabulous. I like the look of these. Esp the proportions on that green velvet shirt. Great find Aly!
Angela Blair says:
Wonderful. All clothes available up to a uk size 22, I’m so happy to see this extended sizing becoming more normalised with designer brands. Got my eye on that checkerboard shirt
On washing panne velvet. I had an olive green top and long skirt I used to wear at this time of year. I do lots of hand washing with Woolite, Stergene and Brora cashmere wash of my knitwear, silk scarves and silk dresses and blouses in tepid water. Blotting in towels and hanging or laying flat. I did this with my velvet ensemble. With care. Result. It shrunk somewhat even doing so with caution. As it says above best to dry clean to avoid shrinkage and spoiling an expensive garment. That’s why the tags now mostly say dry clean only in my opinion.
These clothes are really beautiful, and so is the model . Lovely to look at , but
Not my Lifestyle.lizzie g says:
i dont think i would be cooking or clearing up the garden in velvet, but definitely would be happy to change out of my indestructible and well washed working clothes, into velvet for a glass, or a meal with friends out or at home, or a book on my own and a fire.
surprising there were not so many velvet jackets in the collection, as they bring the wonderful surface finish without so many laundry needs. i have four that come out when the days are short, including a gorgeous plum my mother bought in 1977. cant remember needing to wash any of them.
shopping online, it helps to have item only photos, to zoom in to check collars, buttons etc, difficult to see sometimes on model shots.
but what a wonderful model cecilia is. wow.Oh I agree about velvet jackets, Lizzie. I have two, and a couple of tops. I wore one to meet a friend in the pub on Saturday night. It’s such a beautiful fabric. I think Jo is talking generally about the clothes in the collection being washable, rather than dry clean – it was part of a larger conversation we had on the environment. Though she does hand wash her velvet shirts…
Amanda nicoll says:
They are stunning clothes I agree if a bit luxury on the price front.however the dry clean recommendation puts me right off clothing esp for a shirt that ud hav to get cleaned regularly.i do love the colour of that green shirt tho!
Happy to add to the velvet jacket discussion above. I’ve got two cotton velvet ones. Pretty old. Fitted shape. Hip length but great to layer over a dress for warmth and flair. Ones a black brocade texture with small lapels the other teal velvet. So useful even over a black t-shirt. I put beaded jet brooches on lapels or similar to add sparkle. This is true shopping of my wardrobe. I’ve also got a few gorgeous old English Eccentrics or Georgina Von Etsdorf velvet printed scarves. Bought long ago but a joy to swathe around neck in cooler weather for a feeling of warmth and luxury. PS all go to the cleaners very occasionally. Get packed away each year for the next year.
Susanna says:
I remember starting my first job back in 1979, and my dad treating me to a black velvet jacket from John Lewis. “You’ll wear it with everything and it will help you look the part,” and he was right. It lasted a couple of decades! And there was a lovely thrift store grey velveteen and lace skirt that I also really miss. Maybe velvet is calling to me again this winter … love these clothes for inspiration!
Maureen Casey says:
I’m a bit late to this discussion, beautiful clothes though not my style. As they are celebrating older women seems strange choice to use a much younger model, same old same old…..
Hi Maureen, Thanks for your comment, as always. The model, Cecilia Chancellor is 58, so not that young! I have always liked her style and remember her being in Elle magazine when I was a student in the 1980s. So, she’s a good choice in my opinion…
Fair enough Alyson, she has indeed a lovely style. Perhaps it is the photoshopping that’s making her look like she’s thirty, unless she has found the elixir o eternal youth somewhere!
Jennifer says:
I do hope that this company will be able to ship to France soon. The clothes look lovely.
Pru 
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Nice, but “all our clothes are washable”?? The velvet blouse I clicked on clearly said “dry clean only” in the care instructions