Longstaff Longstaff

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About

…Longstaff Longstaff

Our collections of perfect shirts, fluid dresses and forever blouses in stunning, hand-painted, bespoke prints feel utterly sublime to wear and epitomise modern British style. With an aesthetic that is bold, feminine and elegant, we have an artisan touch and a commitment to British craftsmanship and luxury finishes.

Listen to Sophie’s design inspiration.

Small is sustainable. All our clothes are made with 100% silk and we use sustainable, small scale, high-end production. Every shirt and dress is made one at a time in London so that our wastage is as low as possible. Design, print, silk, sew and that’s pretty much it. Buy from the website or preorder to find your perfect combination of print, style and size.

…our name

Longstaff Longstaff is a family name given to my grandmother, her six sisters and all the women born to that family for generations before them. The Longstaffs were pioneers, inventors and philanthropists and by giving all the daughters Longstaff as a middle name, they made sure the family identity was kept after marriage.

Always breaking the mould, their mother smoked a pipe and their father, a mountaineer and explorer, took the older girls on expeditions to Nepal and the Rockies. The sisters grew up in the 1920s and 30s when days were spent outdoors but the evenings were a time to dress up, whether they were staying in or going out.

The family’s British eccentricity has always struck a chord with me and I was captivated and inspired by the stories of elegant parties, wild adventures and handsome suitors and by the seven, self confident, assertive and adventurous Longstaff Longstaff sisters.

… made in Great Britain

Longstaff Longstaff has proudly used British excellence in all areas of production, making sure every piece of our collection is designed with thought and made with care.

Made in Great Britain isn’t just about the principle of supporting British manufacturing. We love finding small companies with extraordinary skills, who are driven by quality and innovation. By talking to the makers, understanding their skills and experience, we can collaborate to achieve brilliant results.

… Sophie Barnard

Dark floral shirt, silk shirt,English on one side of the family and Russian on the other, I loved the dressing up box in my childhood home. It was full of bear skin hats, sarafans and a beautiful kokoshnik, a traditional Russian head-dress, belonging to my great-grandmother. The Russian decorative arts have been hugely influential on my work. Folk art and embroidery and the work of designers and illustrators such as Ivan Bilibin, Leon Bakst and Natalia Goncharova, as well as the English Arts and Crafts movement are constant sources of inspiration.

My design career started thirty years ago and spans theatre costume design, accessories, textiles and fashion. My first job was as a buyer with English National Opera which meant knowing every back street and fabric house in Soho. Then a change of scene with couturier Catherine Walker before starting an accessories brand stocked by Liberty, Selfridges, Harvey Nichols and Browns.

Family life was my focus for many years but one day, picking up a paint brush for the first time in a decade, I found that I couldn’t stop. The ideas kept coming until my unique prints and colour ways led me to start Longstaff Longstaff.

Sophie Barnard, Longstaff Longstaff, Luxury silk, designerSophie Barnard

 

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IN THE PRESS

Fabric Magazine loves Longstaff Longstaff silk

… indulge your inner Hollywood screen siren and slip into something more comfortable - like the totally glamorous and utterly decadent silk loungewear from Longstaff Longstaff..
Longstaff Longstaff
5
2017-07-14T10:49:08+00:00
… indulge your inner Hollywood screen siren and slip into something more comfortable - like the totally glamorous and utterly decadent silk loungewear from Longstaff Longstaff..
https://longstafflongstaff.com/testimonials/longstaff-longstaff-fabric-magazine/

Hot silk Kimonos, Glamour Magazine

Longstaff Longstaff’s Buttercup kimono - sassy as hell!

Longstaff Longstaff
5
2017-07-14T10:51:47+00:00
Longstaff Longstaff’s Buttercup kimono - sassy as hell!
https://longstafflongstaff.com/testimonials/hot-silk-kimonos/

The Robb Report, Malaysia

…The ultimate in comfort, it has to be confessed, is loungewear. British brand Longstaff Longstaff gets that, introducing a collection of luxury loungewear…

Longstaff Longstaff
5
2017-07-14T10:52:43+00:00
…The ultimate in comfort, it has to be confessed, is loungewear. British brand Longstaff Longstaff gets that, introducing a collection of luxury loungewear…
https://longstafflongstaff.com/testimonials/robb-report-malaysia/
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Longstaff Longstaff

BLOGS

design by Leon Bakst for the Firebird Ballet Russes

Design Heroes, part one- Leon Bakst

April 29, 2019

Platform: Welcome to the Spring Pop Up Shop!

April 13, 2019

Celebrity Style – see how they work a print!

April 5, 2019

longstafflongstaff

A real life party ❤️ Thank you @erthsw9 and @j A real life party ❤️ Thank you @erthsw9 and @jeremymetson ⭐⭐ I can't really cope with selfies but give me a party and I can sing and dance to camera 💃💃💃💃💃💃
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#longstafflongstaff #irl #50thbirthday #partydress
Doodling again, though for an activity I find rela Doodling again, though for an activity I find relaxing, this looks a bit manic!
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#longstafflongstaff 
#fashionvalues
#silkprint
#passionateaboutpattern
#printdesign 
#standoutfromthecrowd
#fashioninspo
#readyforsummer
#springwardrobe
#doodling 
#patterndesignersclub 
#fabulousat50
One of thing things I really love about having a b One of thing things I really love about having a business is the unexpected pleasures of a project, and it's always⭐ always⭐ about people ❤️
We had our print workshop yesterday and not only was it lovely to chat and create and mull over which side of a leaf is better for printing 🥰 but people brought friends and family 🙏 What a pleasure it was to see grandparents (aged 94) parents, grown up daughters and friends messing around with ribbon, potatoes, banana skins and candle sticks to make fabulous patterns together ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
@totishu @frankly_felicia @cleapdrl @sheazeenhoque10 
Loved your stripes, mandalas and blurry jars ❤️
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#longstafflongstaff 
#creativeentrepreneur
#powerofprint
#passionateaboutpattern
#patterndesignersclub
#textiledesign
#printdesign 
#family
#wellbeing
#together
#artclass
#printingwithfoundobjects
#printingwithfoundtreasure 
#printworkshop
⭐ It's our print workshop today 😃 ⭐ Really ⭐ It's our print workshop today 😃 ⭐ Really looking forward to it - I'm going to make a cup of tea, clear a space on the table and clear some headspace 🥰 Hope you'll join me. It's such a lovely way to relax and I always find I have a bit of headspace after being creative. Sign up in the Eventbrite link in bio and see you at 5pm. 
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#longstafflongstaff 
#headspace
#wellbeing
#smallbusiness
#colourinspo
#joyfulexpression
#powerofprint
#passionateaboutpattern
#printworkshop 
#artclass 
#sundayafternoon 
#activity 
#printingwithfoundtreasure
Rent 🌿Resale🌿Repair 🌿 Remodel🌿 Repurpo Rent 🌿Resale🌿Repair 🌿 Remodel🌿 Repurpose🌿 We're so excited to bring our beautifully made clothes inline with the circular fashion movement. And to acknowledge #fashionrevolutionweek here's the audio about the Worn Again page. Launching soon, we'll have a few pieces to hire and if we can find anyone willing to let go of their loved Longstaff Longstaff, we can resell it for them too. Our repair, remodel and repurpose service is always ready to help you, just drop us a line and keep a look out for Worn Again 💚 👀 💚👀💚
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Full 2 mins on Audio Library. Link in bio ⬆️
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#longstafflongstaff
#ethicalfashion
#sustainablewardrobe
#ethicalshopping
#slowfashionmovement 
#slowfashionstyle 
#slowstyle
#sustainableliving 
#ecofashionista
#buywell
#reviveandrestyle 
#rewearing 
#30wears
I've been meaning to do a print workshop for custo I've been meaning to do a print workshop for customers, followers subscribers, in fact anyone who loves getting a bit messy and playing with shapes and textures. Did a test drive with friends from #lcf and had a blast! I find it so relaxing making patterns and experimenting with found objects. Unexpected favourites? Have you ever printed with popcorn? 🍿 Nope, me neither but that's what @georginajoan_ brought to the party and @frankly_felicia
was frankly super sophisticated with beautiful rosemary. 💚 Other winners were recycled bubblewrap, the humble potato, mushrooms, corks and forks! 
Definitely doing this again, look out 🧡👀🧡
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#sustainableliving 
#longstafflongstaff 
#independentdesigner
#smallbusiness
#entrepreneur 
#creativeentrepreneur 
#foundobjects
#madeinbritain
#powerofprint
#passionateaboutpattern
#patterndesignersclub
#behindthescenes 
#textiledesign
#printdesign
#fiftyandfabulous 
#readyforsummer
#springwardrobe
#preorder
#personalise 
#madetoorder
It's true! We do 🧡 Have a listen on IGTV. It's It's true! We do 🧡 Have a listen on IGTV. It's another snippet from the audio work I did with Rosie at Tickertape Productions, this time all about finding inspiration @stpancrasren 
@dotmakertours
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#longstafflongstaff
#fashioninspo
#readyforsummer
#springwardrobe
#preorder
#silkblouse
#personalise 
#madetoorder
#50andfabulous 
#overforty 
#40andfabulous 
#40isthenew30 
#fortyandfabulous 
#fiftyandfabulous 
#olderandwiser 
#fortysomething 
#betterwithage 
#40isthenew20
It's true! Have a 2:08 min break and find out why It's true! Have a 2:08 min break and find out why 
#longstafflongstaff
#behindthescenes 
#textiledesign
#printdesign 
#creativeentrepreneur 
#founder 
#madeinbritain
#colourinspo
#joyfulexpression
#powerofprint
#passionateaboutpattern #fashioninspo
#50andfabulous #overforty
#40andfabulous
#40isthenew30
#fortyandfabulous
#fiftyandfabulous
#olderandwiser
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