The cool fashion collaborations worth checking out this spring
Jigsaw Creative Director Jo Sykes and Lucinda Chambers – Jigsaw x Collagerie
There are so many fashion collaborations these days, it suddenly seems like everyone is working with everyone, all at once. Designers, celebrities, sports stars, artists; even gamers and Greggs are getting in on the partnership action. Doubling up continues to be a popular phenomenon in the fashion world. And, done well, a cool collaboration blends the best of each brand, taps into a new customer base and creates a bit of buzz around lust-worthy, limited edition pieces (in the time it took to write this piece, I could see the Scholl x Re/Done sandals selling fast).
Here are the best spring 2023 partnerships worth checking out:
Jigsaw rules the high street at the moment. Creative Director Jo Sykes – who has worked on collections for Giorgio Armani, Alberta Ferretti, Aquascutum and Nicole Farhi – joined the company in 2019 and has completely rejuvenated the label, introducing directional design details and a bolder aesthetic. Making the high street stalwart a go-to for grown-up wardrobe essentials with a creative twist. The label has recently launched its second collaboration with Collagerie co-founders, and former British Vogue Fashionistas, Lucinda Chambers and Serena Hood. This super-chic, 25-piece collection features beautifully constructed dresses, easy-to-wear separates and beach-y accessories all brought to life with Marni-esque prints and blasts of Yves Klein Blue.
My highlights include: The gorgeous Stripe Drape dress; the contrasting stripe, bold leaf print and fabric quality make it look like a high-end designer piece. At the press launch, I tried on the Striped Tie-Waist Trouser and matching Striped Shirt, these would be excellent, co-ordinating suitcase companions on any summer trip. And don’t miss the accessories: the striped leather mules, cool crossbody bag and chunky chain necklace are all trademark Lucinda Chambers pieces.
The Jigsaw x Collagerie collaboration will sell out quickly, so act fast if you want a piece of the action.
For the last couple of summers I’ve been considering upping my sunglasses game. I’m a long-term Linda Farrow fan but always reluctant to blow the budget on pricey eyewear. So, as soon as I spotted the luxury brand’s Cos collaboration, I clicked ‘buy’ on the retro-tastic, white shades with pink arms (far left). One of the best elements of a high-low collaboration like this is the opportunity to purchase designer goods at more accessible prices (Linda Farrow frames typically sell from upwards of £300, by comparison this range is priced around £100 a pair). The collection focuses on five vintage-inspired shapes; the sunglasses are well-crafted with sturdy fixtures and offer 100% protection against UV rays. At last, I can throw some shade in a pair of Linda Farrow sunglasses…
Scholl x Re/Done sandals
Anyone who grew up in the 1970s will be familiar with Scholl’s wooden-soled mules. This spring’s Fantasy Vintage collaboration sees the old-school sandal updated by cult jeans brand Re/Done into five new designs, including frayed denim (upcycled Levi’s) and patent leather. While I wouldn’t recommend wearing them with hosiery – looks great in a photograph but offers plenty of slippage potential on the pavement – I do like how Scholl sandals look with a pair of faded jeans. Warning: if you owned a pair in the 70s, you might baulk at the new price tag…
Five more collabs to keep an eye on:
RHODE x Target (arriving April 15)
Monica Vinader x Mother of Pearl
Zara x Clarks (the shoes are almost sold out but the boots are still available. And the Original pink suede Wallabee shoe is available HERE)
And don’t forget all the lovely collaborations in the That’s Not My Age Edit (more coming soon).
And here’s a selection of my favourite partnership pieces:
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Discussion (23 Comments)
Cindy from Canada says:
Hi Kate,
I suggest contacting the people at Jigsaw to voice your concern about them not carrying petite sizes.
Bev says:
My only complaint here is that Jigsaw have become overly expensive for where they sartorially sit on the high street. This very stylish collaboration will be more expensive still and I am not convinced it is a good move for Jigsaw when Cos, Other Stories, Arket etc are on those same high streets. Can I say this?
You’ve said it Bev! I think it depends what you’re buying. Cotton shirt dresses and summer dresses from Cos are brilliant and I buy the oversized shirts (and occasional T-shirt) from Arket but for tailoring and quality fabrics, Jigsaw is better. Though you’re right, they should keep an eye on pricing.
June says:
I find Jigsaw sizing to be small, but have a lovely ancient long cotton cardigan of theirs which comes out every summer. Those Scholl sandals – baulk at the price? I spat out my coffee! Blimey. Never the most comfortable first time around, the flats easier to get on with for me, rather than the heeled version. Also, they had a tendency to slip to one side and you would be nearly crippled by stepping on the side of the wooden sole. Maybe they’ve cured that after all this time? Ha! Happy days.
Have to confess… I didn’t check the price before writing the blurb. My mistake. Hope you didn’t stain your Jigsaw cardigan! I’ll be sticking to my Birkenstocks…
Mrs Tonia says:
Hello Alyson. Thanks for the heads up about collaborations.
I read about the Jigsaw Collagerie collaboration in a Times article prior to its launch. Signed up online for info. Nothing came so some time before Easter I decided to go see these clothes in my local branch. Although it was full of brightly coloured dresses, new spring collection there were none of these clothes in the shop. The manager showed me on her iPad the look book.
She said they wouldn’t be stocking any nor would the Oxford shop. I looked at the prices and styles. All in synthetic fabrics which doesn’t make sense for summer dresses costing £250 or more. I followed this up with email about my difficulty in even looking at this range.My local shop sold the A/W range. I waited until sale time. Tried on the striped wool pullover. Although half price didn’t buy any of it. Instead for same price I bought two pullovers from their regular range. I’m very happy with both of these basics at very good price in good quality yarns.
I have bought and worn Jigsaw for many years and appreciate the quality/price ratio. Especially when discounted in sales.Locally the shop in prominent shopping street closed as lockdown hit. I thought gone for good. It reopened in a different shop same street just this autumn with promotional discount.
I’m sure they struggle with rents, salaries and rising costs of materials. Like other retailers.Like others I buy basics from Cos, Uniqlo, occasionally Zara. All of which represent good value fashionable garments. But they aren’t maybe as sustainability conscious as Jigsaw is. A difficult market place out there with the price of clothing at places like Toast etc on the rise of necessity.
My solution is to use what I have. Get it altered if need be. Change accessories. Buy careful with discounted purchases when something additional is needed. Be more conscious of sustainability in this way.Kay says:
Back in the day, Scholls marketed their sandals by claiming that they exercised legs to make them shapely hahaha!!!!!! And I do remember stepping out of them painfully. Still, they were easy and fun. 😉
So amusing about the original Scholls sandals. I had these. They weren’t greatly comfortable. They were inexpensive. Maybe leg trimming propaganda encouraged one to buy and wear them. Like Fitflops later on. They were the casual equivalent of Birkenstocks now. Fling on and go.
Like others I won’t be getting any.
Barbara Inskeep says:
OMG! I used to buy my Scolls at the drug store for less than 25$… yes…luckily I had finished my coffee. Also stopped wearing them because of dangerous & painful side slips.. No thanks!
Deb C says:
Does collaboration = price increase? There’ve been a number of these over the years and surely everything is designed, just that for these collaborations we can recognise the designer or the marketing insures we do, so up goes the price. I got excited about the Scholls though (briefly) and I have two pairs of their ‘Pop’ version (no longer made), yellow and a yellow / green mix and will dig them back out for the summer – I find them comfortable but appreciate that they don’t suit all feet, but the ‘pops’ were made of a synthetic material, so lighter to wear and certainly not in the three figure category, eek, although I love the red!
It shouldn’t, but I think a collaboration is often used as an excuse to hike prices up. Much prefer it when things go in the opposite direction – as with the Cos x Linda Farrow sunglasses! Keep an eye on the sales. I noticed some of the recent Marni x Carhartt items vastly reduced at Liberty the other day (not surprised, the original price was extortionate).
Chris H says:
Also gasped at the price of the Scholls, second one of the day after seeing the price of Fitflops, now well over £100. I find it more and more difficult to find exactly what I want these days. Nowhere seems to have anything “different”. Gone are the days of small independent boutiques, probably because of high rents and not wishing or being able to have loads of stock. Online shopping is hit and miss, mainly because so many clothes seem to be “one size” . Sorry, end of moan!!
Deb says:
I loved my Scholls in days (long) gone by, and I do think they provide good foot exercise, though I wouldn’t love cobbles in them. They’re still available widely in a variety of styles here in the Netherlands, some actually quite fashionable, and at prices that are very reasonable (and significantly less than those included in the collaboration). I also like that the firm is still in operation.
I agree re the Jigsaw pricing point. If I were heading there to shop, I really wouldn’t be expecting to find this sort of price tag on a Jigsaw dress, and conversely if I had that sort of budget for a dress I don’t think that Jigsaw would be my first port of call. I do however generally like their ranges, especially since recent style changes.Vivien says:
No Jigsaw footwear for me – I’m a 42, and they don’t go above 41. This is always a problem – would appreciate any suggestions for good looking shoes in larger sizes. I go from winter boots and trainers to…. just trainers.
🙁carole b says:
I love Lucinda Chambers and regularly drool over what’s featured in the Collagerie edit. What I like the most, though, rather than individual pieces ( and this applies to the Jigsaw collaboration too) is that she just exudes her own style, and is so supremely confident in it. I have similar jewellery (a bit of judicious buying when I lived close to makers in the Birmingham Jewellery Quarter in the 90’s), but otherwise it’s charity shops all the way. When I saw the striped trousers I immediately looked out an ancient, similar Top Shop pair – black, red and white, so they’ll be coming out again when it’s a bit warmer! Thank you for the inspiration Alyson.
That’s what I like to hear, Carole. Hooray! While this is a feature about new collaborations, I want That’s Not My Age to inspire readers – style isn’t about constantly buying new things, much better to make the most of what you already own.
Seconded. Well said everyone who judiciously shops their wardrobe supplemented with pre-loved (trendy speak secondhand!!).
Ellen Are says:
So sad Jigsaw is no longer open in the USA, nor ships here. If you have any suggested alternates that ship to the States, please do share!
Eavan Murphy says:
I like Jigsaw but unfortunately like a lot of other British brands it’s not really an option post Brexit. To order from Ireland I have to pay customs and tax, and the same for returns. The few remaining Irish outlets only care a small portion of the stock and won’t order to the shop for customers. Some British brands have EU distribution points and of course the Scandi brands have always been based outside England. It’s a pity
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I’ve been a big fan of Jigsaw for a number of years but, being 5 foot nothing have struggled to find anything that suits me in their recent ranges, lovely though they look on the models. Too many voluminous sleeves and long dresses.
They neglect their shorter fans at their peril- Whistles and Reiss both have petite ranges and Jigsaw should cater for us too.