THE TIMES ONLINE
4 Dec 2024
The expansion into clothing — Chapman tells me he has grown chary about the word “fashion” because “it’s all about this constant need for newness” — was masterminded by Natalie Kingham. One more matchesfashion.com alumna, Kingham is one of the most talented buyers in the business. The Closet is all about ever-after pieces, whether that’s something new, such as a Nazzy Belgari hand-loomed ikat velvet robe (£5,750) or something that’s already lived and been loved, like the remarkable vintage jewellery curated by the industry legend Mahnaz Ispahani Bartos. An architectural gold and malachite necklace by Karl Stittgen is £15,230.
THE TELEGRAPH MAGAZINE
13 July 2024
‘ It’s not just money lost… It’s not having someone like Ruth, Tom and Natalie to provide mentorship. As a young brand, being picked up by Matches was as important as being featured in American Vogue. ’
THE TIMES
8 March 2024
Kingham, whose alchemist’s eye gave Matches its unique look and taste level, stepped down in 2021 after 11 years.
“ You always felt you were getting something special, ” says Anne-Marie Curtis, the former editor of Elle. “ Even when it got bigger, it still felt like shopping at a boutique - it had that curated eye. The buyer Natalie Kingham was a genius. “
VOGUE BUSINESS
April 2024
New entrants would do well to remember what made Matches special in the first place, says Vogue’s Mower. “ [Founders] Tom and Ruth Chapman and Natalie Kingham [who latterly held the title of Global Fashion Officer] were a formidable triumvirate: they understood that you needed to have amazing fashion in the window, but it also went deeper than that. Natalie was instrumental in helping designers whose potential she saw - giving them advice how to grow their businesses. The whole team was so enthusiastic. It was part of the community and infrastructure of London. ”
She’s confident that designers will find ways to survive and thrive. “ In times of crisis, creative people come up with new things. In times of doom and gloom, you need fireworks. However small those fireworks are, they can ignite something. ”
EVENING STANDARD
9 March 2023
FASHIONISTA.COM
12 December 2022
CHOPOVA LOWENA'S FUNKY,
PUNKY PLEATED SKIRTS
"Natalie Kingham from Matchesfashion came and she was like, 'I love them. I can see everyone wearing them,'" Lowena-Irons says. "At the time, we didn't even think about it. I remember pushing them forward and everyone being like, 'But they're crazy. How would you wear that?'"
"When I first came across Chopova Lowena, I was struck by how fresh it looked," says Kingham, who was the luxury retailer's fashion director at the time. (She left the company in 2021, and is now a fashion consultant.) "I found it fascinating to look at the mood boards and to understand the blend of upcycled folk fabrics and sportswear elements. I truly believed in the unique approach and the integrity of the women."
She knew even then that they would find an audience. "I was delighted I had found them and am not sure how they were overlooked by others, but it was a blessing as a great relationship blossomed."
MatchesFashion picked up the brand in 2018, with 30 skirts adapted from that graduate collection. According to Liane Wiggins, the head of womenswear at the retailer, "they sold out almost instantly."
Read the full article FASHIONISTA.COM
FASHIONISTA.COM
13 June 2022
VACATIONCORE
For regular, non-celebrity people, Natalie Kingham, a fashion consultant who previously worked as buying director for MatchesFashion, recommends thinking long-term about your vacation wardrobe.
"The kinds of shopping habits that I see are people resisting buying things all summer because they have so much from the year before and the year before that, especially if you buy wisely and invest in good fabrics," she says. "However, customers do tend to update it slightly every year, even if it's just one great bikini or new sandals. It just freshens everything up." Kingham also recommends supporting local artisans as you travel, instead of doing a Shein haul right before your flight.
Kingham doesn't think "vacationcore" or "europecore" are going anywhere — neither is our desire to escape our day-to-day realities through playing dress-up. This, however, doesn't mean you need to be in the South of France this summer to experience some much-needed dopamine dressing. Rubber shoes, stacking your necklaces, floaty prairie skirts and matching co-ords are no longer reserved for holidays. Just like cottagecore, it's all about a state of mind. ”
Read the full article FASHIONISTA.COM
FT.COM
13 June 2022
THE CHARM AND SWAGGER OF WAISTCOATS
Waistcoats make for a surprisingly foolproof workwear look, says the retail consultant Natalie Kingham, an aficionado since she acquired a fitted Ossie Clark red snakeskin-print style as a teenager. In her previous role as buying director of Matchesfashion.com she often placed orders for waistcoats from Alexander McQueen, Bella Freud and Dolce & Gabbana. She herself considers them a surprisingly versatile day-to-night option. “I would often buy a waistcoat with the matching blazer because it felt like a no-brainer and it made my life easier,” she recalls. “It kind of works like a 9-to-5 dress, and it doesn’t feel too stuffy or strict. You can have your meeting wearing the blazer on top, and then you can have a cocktail wearing the waistcoat with nothing underneath.”
Read the full article FT.COM
LVMH PRIZE 2022
March 2022
The eight finalists are:
ASHLYN by Ashlynn Park, South Korea, womenswear
ERL by Eli Russell Linnetz, United States, womenswear, menswear and genderless collections
KNWLS by Charlotte Knowles, United Kingdom & Alexandre Arsenault, Canada, womenswear
ROISIN PIERCE by Róisín Pierce, Ireland, womenswear
RYUNOSUKEOKAZAKI by Ryunosuke Okazaki, Japan, genderless collections
S.S. DALEY by Steven Stokey Daley, United Kingdom, menswear
TOKYO JAMES by Iniye Tokyo James, Nigeria, menswear
WINNIE NEW YORK by Iris Balogun, United States, menswear
EXPERTS INCLUDE
Bella Hadid, Model
Amanda Harlech, Creative consultant
Ashley Heath, Editorial Director of Pop and Arena Homme+
Laure Hériard Dubreuil, Founder and creative director of The Webster
Adrian Joffe, Chief Executive Officer of Dover Street Market International
Sylvia Jorif, Editorial Director of Vogue France
Ibrahim Kamara, Stylist and Editor-in-Chief of Dazed magazine
Natalie Kingham, Fashion Consultant
Karlie loss, Model and philanthropist
Suzanne Koller, Fashion Director of M Le Monde magazine
Hirofumi Kurino, Creative Director of United Arrows
Susie Lau, Founder of StyleBubble and journalist
Linda Loppa, Adviser Strategy and Vision at Polimoda Paris Platform
Pat McGrath, DBE, Makeup artist
GRAZIA
February 2022
VOGUE BUSINESS
23 February 2022
LONDON FASHION WEEK: THE OUTTAKES
With some innovative digital excitements such as Roksanda’s NFT, physical shows were back. Some designers pushed the envelope. “In London, creativity is always at the forefront. Designers like Harris Reed and Matty Bovan are really pushing their brand forward [commercially], even if their starting block point may be seen as avant garde,” says Natalie Kingham. This is her first season as an independent fashion consultant after 11 years at Matches, most recently as buying director.
Read the full article Vogue Business
HORRORVACUIMUNICH
