A much-admired television presenter, charity campaigner and model, Katie Piper has now turned her focus to fashion, and Tuesday 25th April sees the launch of her debut clothing collection with online retailer Want That Trend.Com. Speaking exclusively to HELLO!, Katie reveals her inspirations behind the brand new capsule edit, the way in which her style has evolved since becoming a mother and her confidence-boosting tips.
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True blue: Katie wearing the navy blue crochet dress from her debut collection
The fashion line, which features an array of pretty blush pink, white and navy blue pieces in satin, lace and occasion-ready floral fabrics, is incredibly wearable. “Designing a clothing collection is something I've wanted to do forever as fashion has always been a big part of my life,” Katie told us. “I use clothes as a tool in my confidence kit and I wanted to develop a collection that is not only accessible to everyone but also good quality.”
Katie became a mother to Belle Elizabeth, her first child with husband Richard, in 2014 and as is the case with any hardworking mum, her wardrobe has adapted accordingly to fit her hands-on role. “Now that I've got a child I have to be a little bit more functional when it comes to dressing,” she told us. “I can't really run around in stilettos anymore but when Richard and I do get a babysitter and go out for dinner I love to dress up more than ever. I’ve chosen the floral jumpsuit for the launch as I like to cover up but prefer pieces that are not too baggy.”
Katie dressed in the white crochet maxi dress from her new collection in collaboration with Want That Trend.Com
There is more pressure than ever for mothers to get their figures back almost immediately after giving birth and for women in the spotlight this scrutiny can increase tenfold. It is refreshing to see Katie’s positive attitude towards her post-baby body – she is enormously proud to be a mother and feels that the changes in her body reflect that. “I’m 33 and I’m happy to dress in more flattering dresses and skirts. I’ve had to bin the crop tops but I don’t mourn that – my body has made a baby and that’s an amazing thing.”
Though clearly very comfortable in front of the camera, Katie still has days where she doesn’t feel her best and has made it her mission to promote the message that style is something that should be accessible to everyone. “Even though I’ve never been plus size myself, I wore a size UK 16 when I was pregnant and once I’d had my baby I was a size UK 12. I’ve experienced not feeling good and it was important for me to create a range that everybody can wear.”
Inspiring women: Katie with Want That Trend.Com founder Victoria
Katie is a firm believer that a positive attitude and self-love are the keys to happiness. "Confidence isn't an exclusive club that only certain people can join,” Katie told us. “It's a choice and one that you can make for yourself. Don't aspire to be somebody else - it's all about reaching your own potential.”
April is National Stress Awareness Month and for many of us, achieving a healthy work/life balance right is a never-ending battle. Katie finds that thinking tense situations over properly before reacting is a great way to stop things becoming overly stressful. “I’m a big believer in mindfulness and the power of taking a moment to step back and reflect on things,” she told us. “Exercise also helps me to de-stress and de-clutter my mind.”
The Katie Piper Collection with Want That Trend.Com is available at wantthattrend.com with prices starting from £24.95 and £1 from the sale of each piece will be donated to The Katie Piper Foundation to support their incredible work with burns survivors
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