Crumpet Goodness

6a00e5508e95a988330133ecb320bf970b-640wi.jpg

First Crumpet Experience…

Strictly of the spongey carbohydrate category!  Never in my lifetime will I refer to the opposite sex as a 'hot crumpet'.  As a seven year old only exposed to plastic bread, the odd hot cross bun and Chinese baked goods, I was a wee bit scared of the tiny holes in the crumpet.  Would the butter not just fall through and become a hot buttery mess?  Not so.  I haven't looked back since…

First Cashmere Experience…

For some reason, my mother decided that with the added 'teen' to my age, comes great cashmere responsibility and so she bundled me some of her vintage cashmere jumpers which I didn't really appreciate at first due to my fixation with rancid stretchy 'lace' crop tops.  It wasn't till later on that I developed a 'Lenor ad face' when pulling on those jumpers – which consists of closed eyes, dopey smile and possibly an imaginary wind machine in my head blowing my hair…

Combine the two long winded intros and you get Crumpet England who of course don't make spongey baked goods but do give you the same comforting feeling of a bite of buttery crumpet with their cashmere pieces.  In my mind, the tagline 100% Cashmere so often belongs in a) Marks and Spencers and b) jumpers piled up in wicker baskets in Scottish tourist shops.  I've been vaguely aware of Crumpet England but it wasn't until recently that I copped a feel of their pieces in person that concentrating purely on cashmere isn't as limited as I previously thought.

I quizzed co-founder of Crumpet England, Zara Juricic about well…err…crumpets and cashmere…

Why the name Crumpet?
Crumpet is a fun name and one which is open to interpretation….Tea and Crumpets is also a truly British institution, we wanted a name that had similar connotations.

What are the most common myths/connotations/cliches about cashmere?
Probably the washing issue – washing cashmere is not an issue as long as it is done in cold water. I use the cold water wash on my washing machine and have no problems. All cashmere pills a little bit – usually after its first wash.

What was your first ever cashmere piece in your wardrobe?
A black vintage cashmere cardigan – very basic and very lovely followed by pashminas in lots of amazing colours.

Are you ever tempted to delve into other materials?
We have successfully combined silk and leather with cashmere in the past,  however, our focus at present is purely on cashmere as we do it so well. In the future, I am sure we will develop with other materials but the time is still not quite right.

What are the key Crumpet Cashmere pieces?
For AW10, the cashmere maxi dress and bestselling biker jacket has already received a welcome response from press. There are also some great printed dresses and tees, whilst more floaty pieces mixed with silk and chiffon such as the black ruffle back cardigan are a move on for us. We have also incorporated a cashmere play suit in grey and a navy jumpsuit into the collection for Autumn Winter – not forgetting all our scarves.

How do you like your crumpets?
A bit of butter and marmite is actually how I like mine.

I'm not familiar with Crumpet's past collections but I'd like to think that their A/W 10-11 collection, which they very kindly let me play around with, is their most wide-ranging yet… comprising more pieces outside the realm of jumpers and scarves though of course those are still requisite pieces.  Capes, jogging bottoms, biker jackets and dresses all make up an indulgent capsule wardrobe where were you to pull on a piece 70% of the year (I'm being generous with the 30% UK summer season quota…), you'd be experiencing 'Lenor ad face' a lot… 

I hardly ever describe items of clothing as things I'd live in.  But it wouldn't be at all bad to live in a cashmere cocoon with an oversized gingham check that also gives you protection with its floppy collar.

DSC_1680

DSC_1685

DSC_1693
(With Adidas SLVR hat, Nikicio signature velvet dress, Gemma Slack crop top, Peter Pilotto trousers, Dries Van Noten shoes)

Ruffles on the back.  Black cashmere on the front.  It's like me and my mother's styles doing battle with each other.  There's no question that ruffles win… ruffles ALWAYS win.  

DSC_1697

DSC_1706

DSC_1719
(With Bebaroque tights, Yokoo pom pom headband, Sibling jumper, Alexandra Cassanti neoprene shorts, Nicholas Kirkwood shoes)

I've had knitted bikers before but not a cashmere one and the lightness of it makes it a superb layering piece, a stretchy biker if you will…

DSC_1728

DSC_1737
(With Krystof Strozyna blazer, House of Holland cropped tee, vintage leather shorts, Tabio coral legwarmers, Michael Angel x Manolo Blahnik shoes)

Then there's the loooooong dress.  Well, you can't say I'm that unpredictable.  I quite like the contrast of wearing a long cashmere dress with bare legs, which incidentally is suiting the current climate and also, cashmere manages to 'swish' very well.

DSC_1742

DSC_1753
(With Sou Brette necklaces and bracelet, Michelle Jank necklace Lucy Hutchings cuff, Alexander Wang wedges)

Three pieces all at once and I've got my very own 'travelling outfit' (see end of Sound of Music…)…

DSC_1758
(With Heavy Machine shoes, vintage straw hat, Rika scarf)

39 comments

  2. These pieces are so beautiful, so much more interesting than the pieces I usually associate with cashmere, mostly old lady cardigans that are super comfy…
    I’ve just launched a giveaway on my blog to win Laura Mackness for Weekday and Benefit treats if you fancy saving on airfare to Stockholm!
    http://iliketweet.blogspot.com/
    x

  3. Gosh, that black cardigan with the ruffles is brilliant. I like the idea of yours and your mum’s styles fighting within it.
    These are so unexpected. I, wrongly, assumed Crumpet would be just another one of those classic knitwear companies.
    Clare x

  5. I had crumpets today! My goodness, I also need Bebaroque tights in my life, you always wear them so well.
    Love all the cashmere, the gingham print looks super cosy…

  6. Love the long dress, so casual yet not! Unexpectedly great paired with the loafers. I need to find a perfect cosy long dress, so uncommon when most of them are strapless or floaty. Gorgeous cashmere.

  12. EXCELLENT POST!!!! Outfit-o-rama!!!
    Big Ticks: cashmere moto jkt, ruffle back and long dress. Kirkwoods. Pom Pom head band. Jank necklace. Bebaroque tights. Cape. Velvet Dress. In fact, the whole second outfit is really cool.
    No Ticks: The fact it took you SO LONG to have a CRUMPET!!! Staple breakfast/mid morning/can’t be bothered making lunch/mid afternoon/late lunch/night snack attack food! Espesh with butter and Marmite/Vegemite (for those who are NOT Kiwi, Aussie, it’s a black yeast spread and delish)

  15. I absolutely love the shoes you wore with the epic tights! And that first one, the gingham check, is gorgeous! I’ve only known about Crumpet England for a few weeks, and I’ve yet to buy something, but I’m hoping to convert my mum too!
    http://toruu-tania.blogspot.com/

  17. I really love this post. Very susie 🙂
    Your looks are a great source of inspiration.
    Kiss

  18. That first look is my probably my favourite look you’ve ever posted. You look so elegant and comfy.
    Very glad to hear you are coming to RAFW!

  19. LOVE LOVE LOVE cashmere! And all these pieces are divine! LOVE also the floppy hat, DVN shoes, velvet dress…everything! GORGEOUS!
    xx

  23. Wow…your kinda amazing! What a lovely find. The Sou Brette necklaces and bracelet, holy amazing-ness!
    Lots of x’s
    Cheers, Jesa

  25. The words “100% Cashmere” are music to my ears. If it’s cashmere, I want it. All that Crumpet stuff looks divine.

  31. Very beautiful stockings. But i think you would better carry with a luxury bag that would be perfect for luxury bag always the best accessory.

  37. I agree with you. Here we realize that our existence would need new strategy, new style. New factors can bring new really feel and new practical experience to us. Just like your weblog, it take me to some new state. It really is so fantastic that I can not leave.

  39. Great dress and loving you shoes. I’ve recently heard about this website (www.divinecashmere.com) and I was thinking of you. x

Comments are closed.