October 9, 2024

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We Do Shopping Right

London Designer Marielle Wyse Discusses Her Eponymous Clothing Brand

Marielle Wyse is on a mission to make happy clothes, and so, cue Wyse London that offers everything from cardigans with rainbow colorways to swishy sequin skirts, and cute scallop dungarees.

This London-based designer turned her hobby into a profession, and it all started with cashmere sweaters, but with a twist. Wyse puts this design aesthetic down to her mix of nationalities and cultures, being half French, and half British she’s attracted to simple elegance, but also the unexpected. After all, for Marielle, more is more, and this design ethos has become a signature of hers.

And this aesthetic has been well received as she’s gained a legion of loyal customers (including a host of well-known faces), and has collaborated with other brands such as Soho House. Learn more about Wyse’s namesake brand, and brighten up your January with her happy clothes.

Felicity Carter: What is your first memory of fashion?

Marielle Wyse: Depends what you call fashion really, I would say it has to be sitting at my sewing machine at a young age making things, in particular a tiered, rick rack trimmed, gingham skirt. I can still remember it now.

Another fond memory I have is being taken to Biba by my mother to show me what fashion really meant. I remember it being so cool!

FC: How, when, why did you get into the industry?

MW: I have had several lives in fashion. I started at Elle magazine in the late 1980s, booking supermodels, flying girls on Concorde to shoots etc. I also worked for a fashion photographer and then took a different direction and worked in television as a TV Director. At 49 I decided more as a hobby to have a go at creating again, but this time it was jumpers!

FC: How would you sum up the Wyse aesthetic?

Fun, sophisticated, stylish and feel good. Clothes that don’t wear you but elevate your mood. Ultimately happy clothes!

FC: Who is your customer?

MW: A smart woman who wants to feel stylish but age appropriate. However, what I had not counted on was that her daughter and mother would also shop from me. True style is ageless.

FC: Which was the first-ever piece that you designed?

MW: It was a lurex trimmed sweatshirt shaped cashmere jumper, which was so beautiful. It was a reinvention of the sweatshirt with lurex threading around the neck, sleeves and elbows it really elevated it. I wish we still did it now.

FC: Currently which is your favourite piece and how do you wear it?

MW: I am loving the Freida blouses. They are so versatile and go under our dungarees or with any of our chunky cardigans. They’re like a cool dressy t-shirt and have almost become my stylish staple uniform.

FC: What’s been your biggest career highlight to date?

MW: I would like to say it is the celebrities who wear our pieces, and there are many. But actually, it is not only the fantastic celebrities but also our valued fabulous customers. They send me messages saying how much they have regained their confidence and love of clothes by discovering us, including how good they feel in Wyse. That is quite possibility the loveliest compliment.

See the full collection on wyselondon.co.uk.