LOVE IN A COLD CLIMATE
“I am normal, my wife is normal but my daughters are each more foolish than the other.” - Lord Redesdale, father of the Mitford Girls.
Pamela, Diana, Unity, Jessica, Deborah, and Nancy… the ‘It Girls’ of the twenties and thirties, and most well-known siblings of their time - the infamous Mitford Sisters have inspired the latest collection from New Zealand’s leading designer of leather fashion garments, Caroline Moore.
“The Mitford Sisters variously harboured crushes on Hitler, married a Duke, conducted affairs, dabbled in Communism and Fascism, waited out World War II in prison, eloped, failed attempts at suicide, published bestsellers and mingled with all the movers, shakers and history-makers of the 20th century,” says Moore.
“They were outspoken, snobby, charming and brilliant women who achieved an unprecedented level of notoriety in their era as every incident of their rivalry, grief, anger, regret and joy was splashed across the media,” she says. “But despite being the epitome of the British upper-class, they still had an incredibly accessible style.”

The spirit, energy and eccentricity of the girls motivated Moore to capture the women’s effortless elegance, feistiness and glamour in her winter 09 collection, Love in a Cold Climate.
“The range updates the shapes, silhouettes, lines and feel of the Mitford’s epoch, when the elite’s sense of entitlement and self-condence meant their clothing was a fearless combination of traditional and unconventional styles,” says Moore.
The collection is therefore attering and pretty, making the best use of the timelessness of Italian leather and New Zealand lambskin for truly ageless offerings with a hint of Anglo-French grace.
“Fashion is about looking for stimulating designs, and if you separate the name ‘Mitford’ from its more infamous political associations, you are left with an iconic approach to fashion that is enduring and wearable,” says Moore.
“Like the Mitford girls, the women who wear Caroline Moore have a great sense of style,” she says. “They are aware of the versatility of leather and know how to co-ordinate pieces with other garments in their wardrobe to create unique looks that get attention for all the right reasons.”