Dress

Kim Philpotts bought this Katharine Hamnett coat dress in the early to mid 1980s. Hamnett, a British designer, studied fashion at Central Saint Martins College of Art & Design in London, launching 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.

Philpotts grew up in Stratford Upon Avon in the 1960s, and studied Set and Costume Design in Birmingham before moving to London in 1982. An early love of fashion developed once she moved to the city, an exciting place following the austerity of the 1970s, and Philpotts was keen on buying British just as British fashion was becoming popular. Being involved in theatre, Philpotts also liked the theatrical quality of 1980s fashion, and has commented that clothing at that time was about self-projection and performance. She was particularly interested in female designers such as Wendy Dagworthy, Vivienne Westwood, Katharine Hamnett, Betty Jackson and Ally Capellino.

Philpotts has donated a number of items of clothing to the museum, and her collection provides an interesting insight into fashionable designer clothing during the 1980s and 1990s. She was fond of Hamnett's designs because of the contrast between their wearability and quirkiness, and this example was bought by Philpotts on a trip to Cheltenham.