The Debenhams X Ashish collection with Kim Cattrall is finally available to shop and I’ve already got my hands on some of the pieces – here’s my top picks as a fashion writer
When Debenhams announced its latest Designer collaboration was with Ashish , I couldn’t wait to get my hands on it. When they announced the face of it was Kim Cattrall; well, you better believe I was counting down in my calendar to snap up some items from it.
Although the first look at the pieces has been around for over a week, the collection only just officially launched on the Debenhams website today, and everything is now available to shop. I was lucky enough to get my hands on some pieces early, and there are four pieces that I think are an absolute must-buy from the whole collection.
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Ashish Pink Maxi Faux Fur Coat – £195
Let’s start off strong, with one of my absolute favourite pieces in the entire collection. This pink faux fur coat is a showstopper, and it’s the absolute bringer of joy in any wardrobe. The second I put this on, I felt quite literally like a movie star, and it gave me such an intense dopamine hit that I couldn’t bring myself to take it off for at least 15 minutes.
The faux fur is thick, soft and luxurious feeling, and it’s made with absolutely impeccable quality. The sizing is also generous; I’m typically a size 14, and will regularly size up to a 16 in jackets for added room. The size large in this was plenty big enough to squeeze chunky knits underneath (not that you need it – this will keep you warm in an arctic blizzard with nothing but a mini dress underneath.) All in all, absolutely faultless, and my favourite piece out of everything in the collection.
Ashish Hot Pink Sequin Mini Dress – £110
If there’s one thing Ashish is known for, it’s sequin mini dresses, so it was a given that this collection would feature several different styles. You can imagine my joy when I spotted this version of the brand’s iconic design for a much more affordable £110 (the designer’s sequin mini dresses typically cost around £2k) which comes in a hot pink colour that pairs perfectly with the faux fur coat.
The dress is another generously fitting size – I opted for my usual 14, but could probably have gotten away with a size smaller. However I like that it has a more relaxed, straight cut rather than a figure-hugging shape, as it gives it a much more cool, laidback and effortless look. Well, as effortless as a hot pink sequin mini can be any way.
My one caveat with this dress is that it’s quite delicate. I lost five sequins just trying it on, so if you’re planning on wearing it for a party, you’ll either need to limit your dance moves or resign yourself to the fact you’ll leave a little pink sequin trail behind you. It does come with extras though, so you can always quickly reattach any that you’ve lost along the way.
Ashish Swirl Print Sparkle Tube Skirt – £75
This was a bit of an unusual choice for me; at 5ft 4” I tend to avoid longer skirts and dresses for fear of them drowning me, however I took a chance on this one and I’m so glad that I did. It’s deceptively flattering considering its simple tube skirt design, and the stretchy material makes it a dream for wearing for dinners, whilst bloated or even whilst pregnant.
This one I would definitely recommend sizing down in as it’s very roomy and stretchy, but even on my height the skirt wasn’t so long it trailed on the ground and can be worn with all styles of shoes from heels to flats. The colours and print are also unusual enough to be a stand out whilst still being wearable and easy to style, and who doesn’t love a subtle bit of sparkle?
Ashish Spray Paint Maxi Faux Fur Coat – £195
The final top pick of mine is the Spray Paint faux fur coat. This has been the star of the campaign with Kim Cattrall, and it’s not hard to see why. Just like the pink version, the faux fur is luxuriously soft and thick, and it’s heavy enough to feel warm and cosy without being uncomfortable to wear. The colours are so vibrant and, again like the pink version, bring an instant dopamine hit to any outfit.
You could of course save this for a special occasion, but you could just as easily wear it with jeans and a T-shirt to bring some fun and joy to a basic outfit combination. You also have the added bonus of being able to remove the waist belt and wear it as a faux fur scarf, which gives you even more styling options.
The new Designer X Ashish collection also contains sequin mini and midi dresses, glitter jumpers and tops, sparkly knits and plenty of other faux fur pieces to create the ultimate partywear range. The collab also joins the ranks of other designer X high street ranges, with everyone from George at Asda , who collaborated with Roksanda, to the M&S X Bella Freud collection that sold out last year, and of course H&M’s ongoing designer ranges which have previously featured everyone from Karl Lagerfeld to Jean Paul Gaultier.