Kate Middleton’s Favorite Designer Unleashes Some Blade Runner Worthy Clothes: Blasting Into Outer Space With Jenny Packham

NEW YORK — Maybe Jenny Packham should start outfitting Elon Musk’s space expeditions. After all,  the British designer, whose gowns are a favorite of Kate Middleton, is reaching for the stars for her fall collection and Musk just sent a Tesla into space.

Packham based her entire collection, which she previewed for a select group of writers in her Meatpacking District showroom during New York Fashion Week, on the cosmos, with a nod to Blade Runner as well. Packham created a starry group of slinky gowns, each with such names as “Comet,” “Aires,” and “Cosmo,” and embellished with twinkling crescent moons on tulle overlays, meter showers of sequins and crystal starbursts.

Among the celestial-themed looks are a black jumpsuit covered in glittering crystals, a blush pink tulle gown with cosmic and opal beading, and an iridescent organza gown with a bodice of copper sequins and crystal embellishment. A number of gowns, including a metallic sequined cold shoulder gown and a silver sequined gown with “statement shoulders,”  also are red carpet ready in a glamorous old Hollywood way.

Packham’s husband, company CEO Matthew Anderson, who looked on as Packham met with reporters in individual sessions, noted that the brand is also expanding into accessories. Packham recently joined with the British shoe brand L.K. Bennett (another favorite of the Duchess of Cambridge) to create a line of bridal shoes and clutches in a range of styles. The accessories collection, available at the L.K. Bennett store in the Houston Galleria, range from beaded satin sandals to pearl-embellished pumps and retail from around $345 to $877.

For the past two seasons, Packham has forgone a full-scale runway show in order to present her collection in a more intimate surrounding where guests can touch the clothes and she can explain her thinking behind each look. Packham says she likes it this way, although in September she will hold a full-scale runway show in London to celebrate the brand’s 30th anniversary.

We wonder if the Duchess will be there? The former Kate Middleton and wife of Prince William recently wore an off-the-shoulder Jenny Packham gown with an empire waistline and deep V neckline to the BAFTA Awards, the British equivalent of the Oscars.

In Houston, the Jenny Packham collection is available at Elizabeth Anthony.