Designer bags and shoes are often the pieces to obtain a cult status – it's much rarer for outerwear to land in that category. However, Charlotte Simone's instantly recognisable shearling-trimmed coats have become some of the most sought-after pieces of last decade. Her designs are identifiable by their vintage influence, often constructed with a shearling-trim collar and sleeve cuffs, in a range of joyful hues and luxe fabrics – and they instantly sell out.
The brand's business model works on having select 'drops' — usually two per year — where customers can buy limited-run designs for just a week at a time. This allows the brand to prioritise quality and the opportunity to create truly one-off pieces, as well as promoting more mindful consumerism on the customers' end. On top of that, Charlotte Simone runs an annual Archive sale, where development samples and surplus stock is put up on the website for a limited time.
Some of the most sought-after pieces from the brand include the Penny coat, constructed with a brown faux suede and Mongolian trims; the Harley, a statement leopard-print number; and the Birdie, a cropped jacket with voluminous turquoise shearling around the edges.
Charlotte Simone Naomi
Charlotte Simone Donna
Charlotte Simone Frankie
Charlotte Simone Donna
Charlotte Simone Pamela
Charlotte Simone Olive
The limited-edition drops have bred an exclusivity around the pieces; the reason everyone wants a Charlotte Simone coat is because not everyone can have one. The brand's collections propose an antithetical approach to the see-now-buy-now culture that possesses much of modern fashion, and it's seen Charlotte Simone go from strength to strength.
The story behind the coats
Though the brand has become heralded as a symbol of London style, its roots began in New York back in 2015, after founder Simone Beecham graduated from NYU. "I was musing on starting my own brand in my last years of university, and I always credit New York for giving me that energy and drive to just go for it," says Beecham.
"The city is filled with all sorts of day-dreamers and the energy is infectious. I just went for it. Starting from nowhere was also coupled with the fact I had absolutely no idea what I was getting myself into; naivety worked to my advantage."
A slower approach to business has afforded Beecham the gift of time, allowing her to ruminate on and propagate the influences and inspiration of each collection — a rarity for many designers in the current fashion industry climate.
"We want a Charlotte Simone to be ‘season-less’, a wardrobe staple that can instantly elevate the everyday. I’m heavily inspired by nostalgia — I love a rummage in grandma's wardrobe — womanhood, and vintage silhouettes," she says.
"My moodboard features an array of inspiration. My 14-year-old sausage dog Harold, my grandma in leopard print, the Cranberries, Jane Birkin, motivational notes from my dad, swatches of fabric, colour cards and stickers. I love to collect and muse over my designs in a slow and steady pace. It makes it more considered, and also more joyful."
Who has worn them?
Charlotte Simone's shearling-lined coats have drawn in some serious A-list names. The beauty of these designs lie in their ability to be worn by city-dwellers and West Coast stars alike, and there's something to be said about the way the coat embodies the unimpeachably cool essence of each wearer.
Simone's pieces have been worn by celebrities including Taylor Swift, Emma Roberts, Charli XCX, Dua Lipa, Emily Ratajkowski, Suki Waterhouse and Lila Moss. Swift is a particular fan of Charlotte Simone, and has been spotted wearing multiple designs from the brand, including the cherry red Lulu style and brown Billie jacket.
Most recently, Gigi Hadid demonstrated that while Charlotte Simone's pieces have a vintage appeal, they work just as well when styled in a low-key, modern manner. Hadid stepped out at Paris Fashion Week in the brand's leather Frankie jacket, showing the versatility of the piece by wearing it without the removable khaki shearling collar.
Where to shop
Staying true to the brand's DNA, Charlotte Simone continues to release its collections in drops, which means the pieces aren't available to shop from the site year round. The brand is currently running its annual Archive sale, which contains a veritable treasure trove of pieces from the brand's past collections.
The sale started on the 26 March and will run until the 2 April. It contains over 150 pieces, including the return of signature styles and last-chance buys, making it one of your best opportunities to get your hands on a sought-after Charlotte Simone piece this year.
There will also be some celebrity-worn pieces in the collection, such as the Olive (worn by Dua Lipa and Lila Moss), the Birdie (worn by Charli XCX), and the Pamela (worn by Madonna).
Charlotte Simone Harley coat
Charlotte Simone Margot coat
If you find yourself in-between drops and impatient to have one of the signature pieces to call your own, re-sale sites such as Vestiaire Collection are your best bet for securing a piece of the Charlotte Simone legacy (be warned, the prices will often be inflated due to the high demand). Free People also often stocks a limited edit of coats and jackets, but for the biggest selection of pieces, head to Charlotte Simone's website.
