StyleNest interview founder of womenswear label, Winser London, Kim Winser. 

With a successul career in the fashion industry, which includes some of Britain’s biggest brands from M&S to Pringle Scotland, Kim Winser has an impressive CV. This season she launches her very own label, Winser London which brings together style with practicality in an impressive womenswear collection. We caught up with Kim to find out all about her latest venture, working with Yasmin Le Bon and what style means to her. 

Tell us about your new label Winser London?
Winser London is a collection of versatile pieces that you can mix and match to suit your style agenda. Perfect for travel, work and play. And because every girl enjoys the miracle that is black, we have our very own ‘Shop Black’ page that only stocks black products.

How would you describe the ‘Winser’ woman?
Stylish, elegant and loves quality.

You’ve had a fantastic career in the fashion industry, working for the likes of Pringle Scotland, M&S and Aquascutum. What have been the highlights?
The list is too long, but for me the highlights are always about people, those you have worked with or customers and celebrities we’ve satisfied. In fact, in building my team for Winser London I have selected people who I have worked with over the years because I respect their talent and sprinkled above it young graduates who, hopefully, will be the talent of the future.

What’s your earliest fashion memory?
Buying ridiculously high shoes complete with a platform aged 13.

Winser London’s SS13 campaign features supermodel Yasmin Le Bon. What was it like working with her?
She is exactly as you would want a good friend to be, a truly lovely lady, who is honest, interesting and fun. I interviewed her for our very first Winser London Style Agenda too.

We love the chic simplicity to the collection. Do you have a favourite piece?
The Audrey cashmere sweater and the Winser cashmere scarf, both of which I have in each of the three colours; black, champagne and ivory. But I also adore the wide soft leg trouser and the legging both in black, of course.

Trends come and go so quickly these days and fashion moves at such a fast rate, what’s your attitude to this?
I enjoy the fast pace of fashion but never will fall victim to it – I enjoy style and substance over fads.

What’s your everyday working wardrobe?
Our satin back crepe trousers with a sweater, or the wide soft leg trouser with a silk T-shirt.

The Winser online store also includes a Style Agenda and Stylist’s Edit. Tell us a little about those and what they can offer customers.
Our website was built with the customer in mind. We are all busy women and want amazing service with, perhaps, a little help with styling our outfits to either fit around our weekly agenda or to respond to what the media are saying are key catwalk or seasonal looks.

With a new business to run you must be very busy. If and when you have time to relax, what do you do?

I go Walking with my Spinger Spaniel and enjoy the countryside.

You’ve just been appointed by the Prime Minister to be a trustee of the Natural History Museum. Tell us about that.
I was honoured to be asked to hold a Board post at such an iconic British institute. The Natural History Museum holds so many treasures and is a brand with phenomenal values and is immensely interesting.

Apart from Winser London of course, what labels are you currently loving?
I like some of the fun shoe brands like Philip Charles for flats, Nicholas Kirkwood and Dries van Noten.

Who would be on your ultimate dinner party guest list?
Because I had such fun last time we had dinner, it has to Ewan McGregor.

Can you reveal anything about Winser London’s next collection?
Our collection will constantly evolve, with new pieces every few weeks rather than waiting for the seasons, but early autumn will see some amazing knitwear. We are also working with students at Heriot Watt university on some Scottish knitwear and Central Saint Martins on some prints.

Sum up style in three words.
Empowering. Confident. A gift.

Find out more about Winser London in StyleNest’s Label Watch page.