Collen and Clare

Celebrating in Style Whilst the wind howled and the rain lashed down in Southwold Harbour on Friday night the atmosphere in Shed 3 was rocking.  Thank you to all who came and to the many more that wanted to but space limited us (perhaps we could ask Mr Buckley to build a bigger boat shed for next time…).  The list of help, so often freely given, to put on an event like this is almost endless and so it gives me great pleasure and pride to say that we raised... Read More

Our store will be closed on Monday 19th September for the funeral of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. Ours doors will open as usual on Tuesday 20th at 10am. All online questions and orders will also be processed and dispatched on Tuesday. A day of reflection for us all. 

We invite you to our celebratory 20 Year Fashion Show Friday September 30th 2022 The Harbour, Blackshore, Southwold, IP18 6TA Drinks at Le Roc 6.30pm  Show Starts 7.15pm in HMS Shed 3 Tickets £20 include a welcome drink at Le Roc email vanessa@collenandclare.com or call 01502 724823 Dress: “a nod to nautical” I am proud, excited and nervous but we will be celebrating 20 years of Collen & Clare showcasing our latest collection in a very special venue at the heart of Southwold. Le Roc will also be holding an ‘after show’... Read More

Last year we invited you to join us for a day of ‘R&R’ at the private members club that is Fritton Lake.  Whilst we planned a glorious June balmy day the weather had other ideas and it rained, biblically. That said a great day was had by all and (much to my surprise) we have been invited back again, with the promise of better weather … So this email is a ‘Save the Date’ for Friday 16th September 2022, a day where the sun will shine and the wonderful facilities... Read More

A sale is an opportunity to be brave, to try something new and push boundaries.  The pieces we pick can form the foundation of a whole new season or perk up other outfits we already have buried in our wardrobes.  Whilst the gems in our sale are many and varied the two themes below keep turning up in conversation.  I would recommend them both.  The first is Coastal Grandmother. As a fan of ‘Something’s Gotta Give’ (or anything Hamptons based) any item that fits the white, cream or tan definition... Read More

I cannot honestly think of a better weekend to launch our exclusive beach collaboration. We have teamed up with luxury towelling brand Bridie & Bert to create a capsule beach wardrobe. With a chic palette of black on milky cream with fluo orange fringe details we have taken the classic robe and lengthened it a little, added side splits, a deep but flattering V neck and two rather useful fringed pockets. We have also made quite possibly the biggest towel ever, double sided towelling with fluo fringe edges and room... Read More

Our window this week supported the 2022 Southwold Arts Festival theme of Rainbows and provides us with the theme for our ‘Price Matching’ edit. When brands go on sale we do our best to price match ahead of our full Sale so please do enjoy the first dibs on these pieces and do shout if you see something elsewhere that we can match. Shop our sale here

Join us in store on Saturday 2nd July 10am-4pm to meet our new Caudalie expert, Paula. With years of experience in the beauty industry Paula will be in store with her ‘skin scanner’ (utterly painless and rather cool) offering personalised advice on the best summer skincare routine. Annie is in-store today until 4pm if you would like to secure your slot on 01502 724823 or email her annie@collenandclare.com with your preferred time (on the hour or half hour). Paula will have lots of goodies on the day and the rather collectable summer... Read More

20 Years Ago This Week…. I packed my bags and left London to return home to Suffolk and start the planning of Collen & Clare in earnest and whilst we didn’t open the doors until November this still feels worthy of celebration. To mark this milestone I would like to offer you 20% off everything for 2 days both in the store and online.  Just enter ‘#20%ONV’ in the ‘got a discount code’ at the checkout or pop into the store and 20% will be taken off all full price items until the store... Read More

We have been nominated! Thank you to those who have clearly nominated us to take part in this years Muddy Stilettos award, it really is an awards process driven by you, we do not put ourselves forward at all, so thank you. You may recall we won this category last year and apart from how quickly this year has gone we really would like to win again this year for two reasons. Firstly (as you may have heard) we celebrate 20 years this year and secondly they have pimped the... Read More

We Can Now Ship Worldwide This week we had a very grown up meeting with the team at DHL Express and are delighted to say we are partnering with them to deliver our blue parcels all over the world. And it’s not just any DHL service, we have signed up to DHL Express Go Green. With the ultimate goal of emission neutral logistics DHL Go Green offers climate neutral shipping and contributes to projects fighting the climate crisis, it feels like the best of services. We have standard charges to... Read More

We need to make room for new Summer goodies and I can think of no better way than offering 50% off to do so. The pieces in this ‘mid season’ sale are not on the shop floor (because that looks fabulous just as it is) so I would suggest ordering online and choosing ‘Click & Collect’ if you wish to pop in to try them on. Highlights, corkers, investment pieces and personal favourites below. Happy Sunday Sofa Shopping.

In Need of Distraction We have filled our windows with colour, smiles and peace symbols from Jumper 1234. The latest lightweight cashmere knits to literally buy now, wear now (and may even make you smile). I have hardly taken off my grey smiley cardigan this week (I am enjoying the irony far too much). And for something completely different. As we celebrate our 20th Year of Collen & Clare I am overwhelmed by the pride the team all take in being part of this story. Our weekend superstar, and full time... Read More

Can I tempt you with a ‘brand of the week’ offer? I have a need for newness in my wardrobe and at this rather ‘in between’ time there is a brand that does ‘transitional’ rather well. American Vintage allows you to add colour whilst layering. Mix up a Pinoberry short jumper with a Massachusetts cami. The East Long Cardigan is a perfect over dresses or as an additional layer if turning up the heating is not an option. A wardrobe for all eventualities right there.  Just enter BOTW15 in the ‘Got a discount code?’ box... Read More

To Caudalie lovers out there!  We have been waiting patiently for some time for the re-launch of the Premier Cru range. It is here and very much worth the wait.  Annie and I have been testing it for a couple of weeks and whilst we cannot turn back time we do seem to be radiating more youthful skin.  Abbie, our Caudalie expert, is going to be in-store on Friday 25th February for one-to-one consultations. We have 30 minutes slots available to book between 10am and 3pm. We are offering you, our Caudalie lovers, first dibs on the appointments... Read More

The Great Spring Clean Out We are clearing, sorting and marking down like demons this week. I believe our website has now caught up with our red pens in-store and (with just a handful of exceptions) everything on sale is now half price. To make your hunt a little easier we have created some categories below, happy clicking.   P.S. Click and Collect still going strong here in Southwold or Free UK Delivery for orders over £50. 

 Our Team, Thanks and Tears I remember writing this time last year that being a shopkeeper had been short on upsides in 2020 and whilst 2021 has been far from an easy ride, as I write this now, I am brimming with pride, thanks and quite a lot of emotion.  Armed with more than 20 negative ‘latty flows’ (as the youth in the team call them) we were able to enjoy an evening together in Southwold at our favourite haunt, Le Roc in the harbour. Just us, a roaring fire,... Read More

Our 2021 Christmas Window What better way to celebrate this remarkable year than with a visual expression of thanks and kisses for your continued support and interest in what we do .  We have worked with artist James Straffon (I like to think of him as our very own ‘artist in residence’) to take the ‘ampersand’ (love that word) from our logo and explode it into giant kisses. It seems you can see it from quite a long way up the high street, but up close you get great ‘vignettes’... Read More

But Our Stores Are Open and Full of Mother’s Day Inspiration! In light of the challenges facing us all for the coming weeks we have taken the decision to postpone our Fashion Show at the Sainsbury Centre until the Autumn.  We will be in contact with those who have already paid for tickets over the coming few days, offering a refund, credit or carryover for the re-scheduled date, yet to be finalised.  Our stores remain open and we are following all advice as it comes on a day by day... Read More

Free delivery on all orders over £50.00 until midnight on Sunday, just enter the code FREEPOSTAGE at the checkout to receive free standard delivery – if you would like it quicker please email us on online@collenandclare.com.  To make it even easier we asked our buyers to pick some sale items that they believe are firmly in the ‘buy now, wear now’ box for him and her and some ‘must have new season’ pieces from the collections that are arriving daily, checking our ‘new in’ is becoming something of a daily... Read More

Southwold invites you to shop our Proudly Independent High Street on Saturday 7th December 2019 all day until 7pm.  Join us in Southwold on Saturday December 7th for a day of Proudly Independent Shopping. We will all be offering festive cheer, great service, great product (we genuinely believe you can do almost all your shopping in this town) music, mince pies and mulled wine. With the promise of ‘flash mob’ carol singers up and down the High Street – some of them being led by our very own Morgan – who... Read More

We are kicking off the New Season with a Southwold in-store event on Thursday 29th August 5:30-8pm.                         You are invited to join us for the launch of our Autumn collections and a pop-up showcase of cool Scandi footwear brand, Shoe the Bear. Reasons to join us: Adnams will be in-store with a pop-up “gin in a tin” bar We have 40 shoe care kits to give away with every Shoe the Bear purchase (each kit is worth £35) We... Read More

With Aldeburgh Carnival taking place this weekend and Collen and Clare’s Caudalie Day happening shortly after on Wednesday 21st, it seems that Aldeburgh is the place to be this August! There’s so much to see and do in the gorgeous seaside town we call home, so we’ve put together a little Collen and Clare guide of some of our favourite spots for you. One of our favourite things to do – other than shopping, of course – is to explore some of the fantastic places to eat and drink around... Read More

Our Christmas Angel windows were such a hit that we have commissioned our favourite artist, James Straffon, to create a permanent installation in our Southwold store. We are thrilled to be collaborating with James again, whose clients include The British Embassy Luxembourg, Tate Modern, The Royal Opera House, English National Opera, Paul Smith and of course, Collen & Clare! We will be celebrating this Saturday, opening at 10am to reveal the artwork with drinks, the artist himself in residence, and the opportunity to purchase original artwork. We would love you to... Read More

FIND YOUR FIT We firmly believe that the key to a great outfit is it’s foundation. Let our expert fitters from Wacaol and Fantasie find your perfect fitting bra. 10am – 4pm on Thursday 30th May at our Southwold store. Please call 01502 724823 or email shop@collenandclare.com to book your appointment as spaces are limited. “Make the most of what you’ve got!” WACOALEmbrace Lace Contour Bra in Lilac Grey/Multi £46.00 WACOALAphrodite Fuller Figure Bra in White £46.00 WACOALHalo Lace Soft Cup Bra in Sweet Pink £26.00 FANTASIECarla U/W Side Support Bra in... Read More

“This weekend we open the doors on our new location in Burnham Market, most recently the home of well known interior designer and specialist antiques dealer Birdie Fortescue. Earlier this week Birdie and I met up at her showroom in Fakenham and over coffee we talked about our mutual love of all things furniture and fashion. It is with great pleasure that we share our Guest Buyer’s Picks this week – Birdie has chosen some favourites from our collection and I have had great fun choosing some superb pieces from her website.... Read More

Please join us to celebrate our ‘new home’ in Burnham Market anytime between 11am – 5pm on Saturday May 18th 2019. We will have fizz aplenty, stylists on hand to introduce our collections and our Scent-Maker-Alchemist Pauline Bickerton will be hosting her own ‘Candle Lab’ to launch our lifestyle brand, Loggique. To make the move happen we will be closed in Burnham Market for a week from Sunday 12th May re-opening on Saturday 18th May. You will find us opposite Satchells and adjacent to North Street Bistro at: 16-18 North... Read More

Join us in our Southwold store on Thursday 18th April between 3pm and 7pm…     …to launch our new collection of Loggique candles, diffusers, handwashes and moisturisers. Come and meet Pauline Bickerton, Scent-Maker-Alchemist (how cool a job title is that…) and take part in our ‘Candle Lab’.     Pauline will be on hand to introduce you to the brand – all Made in Suffolk – and for this evening only you can design your own scented candle. Pauline will be bringing with her the whole range of candle... Read More

We have been overwhelmed with the responses we have received to our ‘We need you’ email last week and just wanted to say thank you to all of those who have taken the time to email stella@telegraph.co.uk to nominate us for the Best Independent Boutique list 2019. The results will be published on February 17th 2019 in the Stella Magazine – until then we wait with baited breath and pretty much everything crossed…….. Words from our Founder Vanessa on why she hopes we make the list…… I would like to nominate our... Read More

If you have any connection to our stores, our locations or just need to feel a little Christmassy, then settle down for the next 10 minutes with a glass of something festive and let us entertain you. This Christmas we commissioned artist James Straffon to create installations for all of our store windows with a contemporary take on stained glass windows and inspiration take from the carved angels in the roof of the beautiful St Edmunds Church, Southwold. James has worked all over the world, his clients include The British... Read More

With Christmas just round the corner, we are already starting to get just a little excited here at Collen & Clare HQ… Inspired by The Swan being added to our favourite Mr and Mrs Smith list of ‘cool hotels’ we have teamed up to offer a special Christmas shopping package. If you are like us and haven’t even started your planning yet, don’t worry you are in luck with a exclusive 2 night Southwold experience! Arriving on Friday evening with a welcoming glass of mulled wine at The Swan Southwold,... Read More

    Last week as many of you will know, we hosted our biggest fashion show to date. We would like to give a special thank you to everyone who helped make the night so special and to Spring in Southwold for creating the brilliant videos below which highlight our catwalk looks, capture the night and tell the amazing story of our friend Georgie, who inspired the night. We raised an amazing £4,000 on the evening for the East Anglian Air Ambulance and will continue to collect donations for the... Read More

Last Thursday, we hosted our annual Fashion Show at the gorgeous Henham Barns in Southwold. The night was in aid of the brilliant East Anglian Air Ambulance Charity, and we are pleased to announce that we were able to raise over £4,000. The Fashion Show was based around key looks from our Autum / Winter collection, with local models taking centre stage on the runway wearing some of our favourite brands including, Rixo London, DvF, Michael Kors, Belstaff and Max Mara, just to name a few! A big thank you... Read More

We are super excited to invite you to join us on the 20th of September for our annual Charity Fashion Show. This year, we are supporting the East Anglian Air Ambulance, who have attended over 22,000 lifesaving missions since their launch in 2000. By kind invitation of Hektor and Sarah Rous, the evening will be hosted at the beautiful Henham Barns, near Southwold.  Expect a fashion-packed evening, showcasing our latest brands along with must-have’s for the upcoming season. The evenings events will kick off at 7pm with a champagne arrival. There... Read More

Voted one of the UK’s best seaside towns by The Rough Guide in 2017, Southwold is the perfect place to come and unwind. Boasting the Adnams Brewery and Distillery on your doorstep, stunning sandy beaches, an iconic pier, an array of eateries and independent shops, there is something for everyone. If you are planning a trip to our quintessentially British seaside town, but want some insiders tips on where to stay and things to do, then look no further than our guide below.   Where to stay: The Swan Hotel Perhaps the... Read More

The Southwold Arts Festival is back for another year, kicking off this Saturday, the 23rd of June for eight-days of music, drama, poetry, visual art, photography, dance talks and literature. The acclaimed event will launch with the annual Street Festival at 12 noon, which features musicians, performers, dancers, stalls and a fancy dress parade. The following seven days sees a whole host of cultural activities being hosted around Southwold.  For the latest timetable and ticket prices please click here.  Here at Collen & Clare, we are super excited to join in... Read More

This Thursday the 14th of June, we are hosting a Bra Fitting Event in our Southwold Store, in aid of Breast Cancer Research.  Expert bra fitters from Wacoal will be on hand throughout the day to give you one-on-one advice, helping you find the perfect fit, whilst we will provide you will plenty of cups of tea! With every bra sold, we will be donating £1 to Breast Cancer Research, so there really is no better time to find your fit and do your bit!   Our top 5 reasons... Read More

This weekend, we are treating our lovely customers to £20 off every £150 spent – the perfect excuse to get your hands on those special items that you’ve had your eyes on all season! Stuck for inspiration? Why not take a look at what our Head Office staff have picked! Vanessa The Divine Oil  and Scrub from Caudalie are both bathroom essentials for getting my skin ready for the summer months. The Divine Scrub promises to leave skin soft, silky and delicately scented with its unique blend of plant oils and... Read More

With the clocks going forward this weekend and the weather ever so slightly warmer, Spring is definitely in the air!  To celebrate, we invite you to join us on the 12th of April for our New Season Shopping Event. The night will be hosted in our Southwold store and kicks off at 5pm with fizz and a showcase of our wonderful goodies that will ease you into the warmer months! Along with gorgeous clothes and accessories, the lovely Lynda from Delilah will be in-store to give a master class in this... Read More

Welcome to Christmas at Collen & Clare.   Inspired by the trend for festive animal decor, we invite you to explore our Christmas Menagerie. Expect to find a family of embellished wild animals inhabiting our stores. Adorned in a mixture of gorgeous prints and luxurious materials from some of our favourite designers, this family is certainly ready for the party season!   Diane von Furstenberg Long Sleeved Collared Flare Shirt Dress | £414  Sargossa Inspire Nappa Heel Shoe | £220  In.no Icelyn Feather Jumper | £289  S Max Mara Vadare... Read More

Last Friday, the 6th of October, we hosted our biggest Fashion Show to date in aid of the fantastic charity, Street Child.  The event was a huge success, and we would like to say a big thank you to everyone who came and made the evening so memorable! The Fashion Show was based around five key looks, taken from our Autumn / Winter 17 collections. The show started off with the ‘Winter is Coming’ set. The models wore all things Winter, with luxurious fur lined coats from Joseph and M.i.H taking centre... Read More

We are super excited to announce that on the 6th of October, we will be partnering up with the Charity ‘Street Child’ to bring to you our biggest fashion show yet! Hosted at St Felix School in Southwold, the ‘Winter is Coming’  Fashion Show will celebrate the best of Collen & Clare’s Autumn Winter 2017 collection, whilst supporting this fantastic charity and it’s causes. Street Child strives to ensure that every child has the chance to go to school and has successfully transformed the lives of more than 60,000 children... Read More

After last years super successful Archive Sale,  we are excited to announce that this year we will be hosting a Collen & Clare Secret Sale at the Southwold Arts Centre in St Edmund’s Hall, Southwold. Once again, expect to find designer steals in clothing, footwear, accessories and beauty departments from Max Mara,  Joseph, DvF, MiH, JBrand, Fantasie, Penelope Chilvers, Grenson, T le Clerc, Anya Hindmarch and many, many more. We invite you to join us for a drinks reception on Thursday the 18th of May from 5pm – 8pm.  Due to the... Read More

We are delighted to announce that we are holding a free lingerie event in both our Burnham Market and Southwold stores later this month. On Tuesday the 4th of April, experts from Wacoal, Fantasie & Freya will be in our Burnham Market store for bra fitting consultations between 10am and 4pm and on the 5th of April they will be carrying our their expertise in our Southwold store. We would love for you to come and join us for the event however, please be aware that spaces are limited so... Read More

Last Tuesday the 29th of November, Collen & Clare hosted a fashion show and supper night at the notorious Duck Inn, in Stanhoe. It was a brilliant evening with tables fully booked in anticipation of a fun filled night. The raffle included top prizes of ChloBo jewellery, Caudalie Gift Sets and Collen & Clare Vouchers plus many more goodies. Thank you to everyone who came, it was a great success and with your generosity and support we were able to raise just over £1,000 for Breast Cancer Care. If you... Read More

We are thrilled to be teaming up with the fab team at The Duck Inn in Stanhoe to bring you an evening of fine food and fashion. Amongst many awards,  The Duck Inn is famed for winning The Good Food Guide’s ‘Local Restaurant of the Year 2017’, so we promise that this is a night not to be missed! The night includes a welcome drink and a three course meal for you to enjoy, whilst we will be showcasing key looks from our Autumn and Winter collections. A ‘Pop Up... Read More

Although we hate to admit it, it is about time to start thinking about Christmas gifting and what better why to start than attending our Autumn Loyalty event?! – where we are offering a smashing 15% off everything in store. With representatives from a selection of  suppliers on hand to introduce you to their new season collections as well as answering any style and beauty woes, we promise that it is a night not to be missed! The store is filled with perfect gifting choices, and this year we are all about... Read More

On Saturday the 16th of July, Burnham Market will host its annual Flower Show. To join in on the fun, we’re calling the day a “Flour Show”, paying homage to the former occupants of our Burnham Markter store, the historic Grooms Bakery, who used Marriage’s flour for their baking.  Using Marriage’s flour sacks, our very own Morgan, former movie costume designer, has created these fabulous dresses for the shop which we think look good enough to wear! We will be open for business as usual from 10am, but the Flower... Read More

Ever wished you had bought something you once saw from a previous season? Well now is your chance, as this weekend we are super excited to be hosting our very first archive sale at the beautiful Henham Barn. We invite you to come and visit us for designer steals from DvF, MaxMara, Joseph, Splendid, Simone Perele, Maison Scotch, Nigel Hall, John Smedley and many more from just £5. We will be open from 10am – 5pm on both the 4th &5th of June at Henham Barn, which is just off the A12... Read More

Summer is just around the corner, and like many we are in need of some motivation to go to the gym (any excuse to buy new clothes!) If like us, your gym wardrobe needs abit of a lift, or you are tired of wearing the same old gym leggings as everyone else, then why not pop into our Southwold store this weekend where we are being taken over by the fabulous Player Layer team.  If you haven’t heard of them already, they are a British company which specialises in providing great quality base... Read More

Join us on Friday the 11th of December between 11am – 3pm in our Burnham Market store for a day filled with expert skin consultations, great Christmas gifting and fine wine form the Caudalie Bordeaux Vineyard. Mark, from the award winning French Skincare company Caudalie, will be in store to give expert advice on all your skin concerns and top tips on how to get your skin glowing for the festive season. We have 24 goodie bags filled of luxurious Caudalie products to give away –   Booking is advised... Read More

Art for Cure is a Suffolk based charity which was set up in 2014 by founders  Belinda Gray and Sally Ball. The first Art for Cure event took place in 2014 in aid of Breast Cancer Care – a charity which means a lot to both Belinda and Sally, as both had sadly  been diagnosed with the disease. The event was a huge success with local artists and sculpturists exhibiting their work and selling over £200,000 worth of Art and Sculpturing over one weekend. Designed as a one – off... Read More

Last Friday, we joint forces with the wonderful Southwold Ladies Charity Group to host a fashion show in aid of the fantastic cause which is Breast Cancer Care. Hosted in St Edmunds Hall in Southwold, tables were full of delicious homemade sandwiches and cakes which were washed down with a glass of fizz. Centred around a fashion show which showcased the latest collections at Collen and Clare, the afternoon was filled with laughter, fun and emotions. 60 goodie bags were up for grabs.  At £20 each these  included fantastic products from... Read More

As you may know, October is Breast cancer awareness month – an annual campaign to increase awareness of the disease.  Here at Collen & Clare, we have joined up with the wonderful Southwold Ladies Charity Group and Are Putting on the Ritz in a bid to do ‘our bit‘ in supporting the campaign and those affected by the disease. On Thursday the 22nd of October, we invite you to come and join us at the St Edmunds Hall in Southwold from 2.30pm, for an afternoon filled of afternoon tea, fashion and fizz. The latest collections... Read More

  Opened on the 30th of May, Burnham Market is home to the newest addition to the Collen & Clare family. Situated in the beautiful building that was formally known as Grooms Bakery, we are positioned on The Green opposite Burnham’s acclaimed hotel, The Hoste. A light and airy space, with decor that recognises the importance of its formal occupancy, this store boasts a collective mix of brands which brings  together timeless, easy to wear styles in a warm, relaxed and friendly atmosphere.  Why not pop up for the day and be... Read More

On the 7th of November we welcomed Lord Spencer into our Southwold store where he did a book signing to promote his new book Killers of the King. Laughter and Champagne flowed throughout the store and Lord Spencer kindly took time to meet and greet our guests. It was a thoroughly enjoyable evening and great to see so many of our loyal customers turn up for the event and have a great night. Call us for your own copy of Killers of the King by Charles Spencer on 01502 724823... Read More