Bodice, blouse

Kim Philpotts bought this white Katharine Hamnett shirt in the early to mid 1980s. Philpotts has donated a number of items to the Museum of London, and as a collection they provide an interesting reflection of fashionable designer clothing during the 1980s and 1990s. Hamnett was a personal favourite, as Philpotts liked the practical and wearable nature of her designs. Along with several pairs of black Hamnett trousers there are also several Hamnett white shirts, proving they were staples of her attire.

Philpotts grew up in Stratford-upon-Avon, but studied Set and Costume Design in Birmingham before moving to London in 1982. She was keen on buying British fashion, particularly female designers such as Katharine Hamnett, and lived on the outskirts of London, regularly staying at a friend’s flat in Knightsbridge to visit the theatre and restaurants such as Chez Nico and Le Gavroche.

Hamnett studied fashion at Central Saint Martins College of Art & Design in London, and launched her own label in 1979. Hamnett is now best known for her ethical business philosophy, her oversized t-shirts bearing political statements, and her experimentation with denim.