About Collen & Clare
A leading UK independent fashion store for men and women. With a great reputation for old fashioned customer service and up to the minute style Collen & Clare is a long established destination for the fashion savvy in Southwold, Suffolk and beyond.
Our History
Our store has been a clothes shop since the early 1600s. Collen & Clare has been the custodian of this splendid building for over 20 years.
We're coastal...
Based in the beautiful coastal town of Southwold in Suffolk, our ethos remains the same today as it did upon opening - to offer an edited selection of great clothes in an environment that is utterly relaxed. Good old fashioned customer service forms the backbone of our offer, underpinned by our relentless hunt for the next great brand and our cuarated edit of niche and big name designers.
... and we're Chic
We have been an essential part of Southwold's independent High Street for over 20 years, trading from our historic flagship store in the heart of the town. With accolades from the likes Vogue, The Telegraph and The Sunday Times, the latter describing us as 'the ultimate boutique', Collen & Clare is firmly established as one of the UK's hottest destinations for fashion finds.
Our Founder Vanessa
Suffolk born and bred, growing up on a farm minutes from Southwold, Vanessa was drawn to the big smoke for an early career with US investment bank JP Morgan. After a decade of travel, working in London, New York and Europe, the big skies of Suffolk beckoned and a childhood dream to open a clothes shop in Southwold became a reality in 2002. Vanessa is our founder, buyer and Managing Director.
Meet our team
My team is a huge source of pride and the subject for which I receive the most compliments. We are a brilliant mix, all sharing a passion for customer service and style. I love the way we all wear things differently, get a little giddy with excitement when opening new deliveries and the buzz we share after a day in the shop or working in our warehouse. Enjoy our profiles and picks of the current selection - Vanessa
Amy
N
Assistant store manager
Amy is our super multitasker, moving from model, to manager, to rota queen, to content creator and stock system student... keep up everyone. Stylishly, edgy and cool she wears it all so well.
Annie
J
Longest serving manager
Annie has been at Collen & Clare and the store before it for a suitably impressive number of years. She knows everyone and their dog and is the keeper of canine treats. She also runs our beauty department seamlessly.
Vanessa
J
Visual merchandiser
Miss Jones as we call her is a VM - that's visual merchandiser to you and I - expert. She loves nothing more than a 'complete remerch' of the store.
Debbie
M
Stock room boss
Head of Organising, Debbie can usually be found in her happy place at the warehouse, sorting and arranging everything with care and making life easier for us all.
Elizabeth
R
Ecommerce merchandiser
Elizabeth is everywhere… upstairs, downstairs, putting products online, sorting stock, helping on the shop floor, and fixing tech when it misbehaves. Plus making a mean cup of tea!
Gaia
W
Jewellery star
Gaia is a customer service supremo. With a background in jewellery retail Gaia looks after our jewellery displays as well as our customers.
Jo
S
The one in charge
Jo is our Store Manager. She has an all seeing eye and can spot a wonky mannequin, a mismatched scarf or a dusty shelf from a mile away. She is always on it, always has it covered and dear God she is style personified. Not only that, she is our Head Visual Merchandiser and can create a truly mean window display.
Lucia
P
Style queen
Lucia is a style queen and, in her other life, an interior designer...so it’s no surprise she loves a statement window!
Lisa
D
Operations manager
You’ll find Lisa in the warehouse doing it all... answering calls, managing the website, and keeping our ecommerce running smoothly. Always busy, always on it!
Paula
M
Retail legend
Paula literally does not stand still, a Pilates teacher for much of the week, whilst at the shop she positively bounces around exuding enthusiasm for everything and everyone.
Suzannah
G
Retail legend
Suzannah is cool, calm and always more than elegant. She can often be found modelling the latest pieces and inspires so many with her brilliant way of putting outfits together.
Natasha
K
Buying assistant
Tash is our brilliant buying assistant, keeping everything on track and making spreadsheets look easy. She knows a thing or two about keeping stock and orders running smoothly!
Cath
H
Menswear (and everything else) supremo
Cath seems to gravitate to Menswear.... enough said. All round superstar Cath is a go to for all things super cool and rather wearable, also a trained bra fitter.
Vanessa
C
Our founder
Founder. Buys, sells, and loves spreadsheets. Often on the move... sometimes with the shop dog in tow, and always with an impeccable eye for fashion.
Amy
N
Assistant store manager
Amy is our super multitasker, moving from model, to manager, to rota queen, to content creator and stock system student... keep up everyone. Stylishly, edgy and cool she wears it all so well.
Annie
J
Longest serving manager
Annie has been at Collen & Clare and the store before it for a suitably impressive number of years. She knows everyone and their dog and is the keeper of canine treats. She also runs our beauty department seamlessly.
Vanessa
J
Visual merchandiser
Miss Jones as we call her is a VM - that's visual merchandiser to you and I - expert. She loves nothing more than a 'complete remerch' of the store.
Debbie
M
Stock room boss
Head of Organising, Debbie can usually be found in her happy place at the warehouse, sorting and arranging everything with care and making life easier for us all.
Elizabeth
R
Ecommerce merchandiser
Elizabeth is everywhere… upstairs, downstairs, putting products online, sorting stock, helping on the shop floor, and fixing tech when it misbehaves. Plus making a mean cup of tea!
Gaia
W
Jewellery star
Gaia is a customer service supremo. With a background in jewellery retail Gaia looks after our jewellery displays as well as our customers.
Jo
S
The one in charge
Jo is our Store Manager. She has an all seeing eye and can spot a wonky mannequin, a mismatched scarf or a dusty shelf from a mile away. She is always on it, always has it covered and dear God she is style personified. Not only that, she is our Head Visual Merchandiser and can create a truly mean window display.
Lucia
P
Style queen
Lucia is a style queen and, in her other life, an interior designer...so it’s no surprise she loves a statement window!
Lisa
D
Operations manager
You’ll find Lisa in the warehouse doing it all... answering calls, managing the website, and keeping our ecommerce running smoothly. Always busy, always on it!
Paula
M
Retail legend
Paula literally does not stand still, a Pilates teacher for much of the week, whilst at the shop she positively bounces around exuding enthusiasm for everything and everyone.
Suzannah
G
Retail legend
Suzannah is cool, calm and always more than elegant. She can often be found modelling the latest pieces and inspires so many with her brilliant way of putting outfits together.
Natasha
K
Buying assistant
Tash is our brilliant buying assistant, keeping everything on track and making spreadsheets look easy. She knows a thing or two about keeping stock and orders running smoothly!
Cath
H
Menswear (and everything else) supremo
Cath seems to gravitate to Menswear.... enough said. All round superstar Cath is a go to for all things super cool and rather wearable, also a trained bra fitter.
Vanessa
C
Our founder
Founder. Buys, sells, and loves spreadsheets. Often on the move... sometimes with the shop dog in tow, and always with an impeccable eye for fashion.
Amy
N
Assistant store manager
Amy is our super multitasker, moving from model, to manager, to rota queen, to content creator and stock system student... keep up everyone. Stylishly, edgy and cool she wears it all so well.
Annie
J
Longest serving manager
Annie has been at Collen & Clare and the store before it for a suitably impressive number of years. She knows everyone and their dog and is the keeper of canine treats. She also runs our beauty department seamlessly.
Vanessa
J
Visual merchandiser
Miss Jones as we call her is a VM - that's visual merchandiser to you and I - expert. She loves nothing more than a 'complete remerch' of the store.
Debbie
M
Stock room boss
Head of Organising, Debbie can usually be found in her happy place at the warehouse, sorting and arranging everything with care and making life easier for us all.
Elizabeth
R
Ecommerce merchandiser
Elizabeth is everywhere… upstairs, downstairs, putting products online, sorting stock, helping on the shop floor, and fixing tech when it misbehaves. Plus making a mean cup of tea!
Gaia
W
Jewellery star
Gaia is a customer service supremo. With a background in jewellery retail Gaia looks after our jewellery displays as well as our customers.
Jo
S
The one in charge
Jo is our Store Manager. She has an all seeing eye and can spot a wonky mannequin, a mismatched scarf or a dusty shelf from a mile away. She is always on it, always has it covered and dear God she is style personified. Not only that, she is our Head Visual Merchandiser and can create a truly mean window display.
Lucia
P
Style queen
Lucia is a style queen and, in her other life, an interior designer...so it’s no surprise she loves a statement window!
Lisa
D
Operations manager
You’ll find Lisa in the warehouse doing it all... answering calls, managing the website, and keeping our ecommerce running smoothly. Always busy, always on it!
Paula
M
Retail legend
Paula literally does not stand still, a Pilates teacher for much of the week, whilst at the shop she positively bounces around exuding enthusiasm for everything and everyone.
Suzannah
G
Retail legend
Suzannah is cool, calm and always more than elegant. She can often be found modelling the latest pieces and inspires so many with her brilliant way of putting outfits together.
Natasha
K
Buying assistant
Tash is our brilliant buying assistant, keeping everything on track and making spreadsheets look easy. She knows a thing or two about keeping stock and orders running smoothly!
Cath
H
Menswear (and everything else) supremo
Cath seems to gravitate to Menswear.... enough said. All round superstar Cath is a go to for all things super cool and rather wearable, also a trained bra fitter.
Vanessa
C
Our founder
Founder. Buys, sells, and loves spreadsheets. Often on the move... sometimes with the shop dog in tow, and always with an impeccable eye for fashion.
Friendly Customer Service
A warm welcome or friendly voice at the end of the phone. Great customer service is what we do.
Free delivery over £100
Free UK Delivery with DPD on all orders over £100. We ship worldwide with DHL Go Green.
Free Gift Wrapping
We love to gift wrap, just ask in store, shout in comments or give us a call.